DEARBORN – Supporters of Michigan Congressman John Conyers (D-Detroit) came out to Byblos Banquets on Monday, Nov. 28 for a fundraising dinner event in preparation for what could be a new challenge for the venerable 14th District representative.

Some have said that his main competitor in the newly-redrawn 13th District, which he plans to run in, could represent the toughest challenge of his career. State Senator Bert Johnson (D-Highland Park) could make a strong run in the 2012 Democratic primary. 

With the support of the Arab American community and others, however, Conyers feels up to the challenge. 

He said he looked forward to getting to know members of new communities in the 13th district and thanked the fundraiser attendees for their support. 

“I’ve earned a deep relationship and a special bond with the Arab American and Muslim communities that’s always been dear to me,” he said.

“I’ve always had an unrelenting position of fighting for everyone to be treated fairly regardless of race, religion or national origin.

“The Arab American community is here because of what I’ve done, not because of what I hope to do in the future.” 

Conyers has served in Congress since 1965 and has been at the forefront of several civil rights issues as well as issues of importance for the Arab American and American Muslim communities. 

This year he supported House Resolution 283 which expressed the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal Government should takes steps to counter the growth of anti-Muslim sentiments, targeted rhetorical attacks, and violence against the Muslim, Arab, Sikh, and South Asian American communities. The resolution came out around the time of the Peter King “radicalization” hearings that many believed were unfairly targeting American Muslims and fear-mongering. 

Conyers also introduced the “End Racial Profiling” Act in 2010 and co-sponsored H.J. Resolution 80 in the U.S. House last month, which called for “limiting the issuance of a letter of offer with respect to a certain proposed sale of defense articles and defense services to the Kingdom of Bahrain,” hoping to slow down the brutal crackdowns in the Arab country. 

Zueheir Abdel-Hak, owner of NJ Diamonds in Dearborn, was among those who came out to support Conyers on the evening.

“He has always stood for civil rights issues, and he’s stood for Arab American issues especially for fair policies in the Middle East,” he said.

“He’s one of the few who deserves our support as a community in every way.”