DEARBORN-On Friday, Nov. 2, the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) hosted its 15th annual banquet at the Bint Jebail Cultural Center here. Over 600 attendees turned out for the sold-out event, including local officials, activists, leaders and candidates who showed their support towards an organization that continues to represent the best interests of the Arab American community on the political front. On the eve of a historic election, the event highlighted the importance of Arab voter turnout.

Participants at AAPAC annual banquet standing for the national anthem.

AAPAC sent out 42,000 copies of their bilingual newsletter to Arab American homes across southeast Michigan that included a list of endorsements for candidates who are running for election on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Additionally, slates will be handed out to voters on election day by AAPAC volunteers outside of voting precincts where Arab Americans are concentrated. 

AAPAC issued its endorsements for the historic election; they include 46 candidates and positions on six statewide proposals. Only candidates who obtained two-thirds of the vote from AAPAC members were  endorsed. 

AAPAC didn’t endorse a presidential candidate, because neither Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney nor Democratic Candidate President Barack Obama sent a written request to receive an endorsement from the group. In accordance to AAPAC bylaws all candidates seeking an endorsement must submit a written request.  

Osama Siblani, publisher of The Arab American News and AAPAC treasurer talked about the importance of the Dearborn and Dearborn Heights school board races. He said in the Crestwood School District, 62 percent of the student body is comprised of Arab Americans, but it wasn’t until August that an Arab American was appointed to serve on the board, after one of its members resigned. Attorney Hamid Soueidan became the first Arab American to serve on the board in August.  He is currently running for re-election and a candidate listed on the ballot in addition to Zaineb Hussein who’s also another Arab American seeking a position on the same board. 

Candidate Sam Salamey waves to the crowd.

Siblani also encouraged the crowd to vote for Dearborn School Board members Aimee Blackburn and Mary Lane, who are both seeking re-election for another term on the board. 

Siblani said out of the 18,000 students in the Dearborn Public School District 12,000 are Arab Americans. 

“Our kids are twelve thousand students out of eighteen thousand in Dearborn Public Schools. Now, if this is not extremely important to us, I don’t know what is. We have a challenge to return Mary Lane and Aimee Blackburn to the Dearborn Board of Education. The community can’t afford to lose them, and we need to go out and vote in numbers,” Siblani said. 

A silent tribute was given to Abbas Bazzi (45), co-owner of Flowers by Renee, a Dearborn based florist who died a few days ago. Every year he would generously provide AAPAC with flowers for its banquet.  “We never had to ask, they were always delivered…this year as you can tell there are no flowers on the stage and no flowers on the table because the person who delivers the flowers, the quiet, very loving individual lost his battle with cancer, and died only three days ago. He is a rare rose that died before its time,” Siblani said. 

Wassim Mahfouz receives AAPAC Arab American Activist Award 2012. PHOTOS: Nafeh AbuNab

Attorney Mariam Bazzi, who has held the position of AAPAC president for three years now, took the stage to applaud attendees for standing in solidarity, citing examples of recent attacks toward the community from extremists who have been disseminating hate speech through the mainstream media and in public forms. 

Bazzi discussed the importance of election season, stating that AAPAC spent countless hours coming up with the list of endorsements for candidates. 

“We need to make sure that the candidates we elect into office, regardless of their political affiliation, are ones that will come to the table and will pursue agendas of inclusion, tolerance and justice. I truly believe that all the candidates that we’ve endorsed are ones that hold these values…but I do tell them that we plan on watching them to make sure that they stay on course. I would like to thank the members of AAPAC for their hard work this year, particularly during election season. There were many intense moments and heated debates that ultimately led to this list of endorsements,” Bazzi told the crowd.

Siblani also said America’s foreign policy particularly in the Middle East continues to be of great concern. 

“Even though it seems like many people have forgotten about it, I want to assure you that the Palestinian struggle still remains on the top of our agenda. The struggle of the Palestinian people continues to consume us, and we will never forget and we will never settle for anything less than peace with justice in the Middle East,” Siblani said. 

Detroit NAACP Director Donnell White accepting his award. PHOTOS: Nafeh AbuNab

He also discussed the “Arab Spring” saying some of the most important civilizations in the world are being destroyed before people’s very eyes, as well as issues at home.

Some of the United States’ most important issues that are at stake in this election mentioned by Siblani include the country’s $16 trillion deficit, civil liberties that have been diminishing and tough new immigration practices that many believe target minorities.  

During the event, awards were also presented to leaders who have made a positive impact towards the Arab community. Donnell White, Executive Director of the NAACP-Detroit was present to accept a “Community Service Award” from AAPAC. During his speech, White highlighted similarities between the Arab American, African American and Latino American communities, stating that it was important for them to collaborate together. Also receiving an award was 19th District Court Judge candidate Attorney Sam Salamey, who accepted a “Public Service Award” and encouraged attendees to come out in numbers on election day, stressing on the importance of mobilizing. He also applauded AAPAC for continuing to speak loudly on behalf of the Arab American community in American politics. 

Tina Farhat receiving her AAPAC Member of the Year Award 2012.

“This award to me has greater value and higher importance than many awards that people get for their efforts. It assumes greater significance because it comes from an important Arab American political organization that’s dedicated and devoted to promoting the serious engagement of the Arab American community in the political arena. AAPAC is an organization that wants the Arab American community to become an active participant in the decision making process and the political discourse of our nation… and that is no easy task,” Salamey stated.

AAPAC endorsement chairwoman Tina Farhat received the AAPAC Member of The Year Award for her hard work and commitment.  “This year she has done a great job. It’s really a difficult job to do,” said AAPAC member Ali Hammoud. 

Wayne County Corporation Counsel Zenna Faraj Elhasan introduced Wassim Mahfouz who received the Arab American Activist Award. “He is a man who has dedicated extreme commitment to human rights and social justice causes,” she said. 

Mahfouz is the Executive Director of the Lebanese American Heritage Club, and involved in several other community organizations. 

“This award means a great deal to me because it’s coming from an organization that is well engaged in the community, and knows what community service means,” Mahfouz said.  

For more information on AAPAC and the candidates it has endorsed for Tuesday’s election visit www.aapac.org.