Protestors gathered outside Wayne State University’s (WSU )Faculty Administration Building early today demanding the school reverse its decision to pull the annual Helen Thomas’ Spirit of Diversity Award. The protest was held by WSU’s Arab American Student Union, (ASU) and included about 45 demonstrators. Several were not Arab.     

 WSU’s president and cabinet were expected to hold a meeting in the building, but never showed up.

ASU President and Chairman Ali F. Beydoun says it’s uncertain whether WSU’s president and cabinet canceled the meeting or entered the building through another door. The ASU plans on protesting at the next meeting. “If they canceled there’s a good reason to not meet, because there are people here voicing their opinions,” Beydoun said.

The award was pulled after Thomas said, “…Congress the White House and Hollywood, Wall Street are owned by Zionists. No question in my opinion…” The former Hearst Newspapers columnist and legendary White House Correspondent made the remarks during a diversity workshop on the misconceptions of Islam Dec. 2 at the Byblos Banquet Center in Dearborn.

Protestors chanted, “one, two, three, four, reinstate the Helen Thomas award, ” also “Helen Thomas great alumni stripped of award because of lies,” and  “repeal your decision, repeal your decision, repeal your decision.”

WSU faculty member of 27-years Kevin Rashid who is a curriculum coordinator for the university’s Irvin D. Reid Honors college said he plans on continuing to voice his opinion to the university.

“ I know that the Arab American community is angry and I know I’m angry. I think that this decision is uninformed, and unfair. We are going to voice our opinions and keep voicing them, and we’re going to make these people do their jobs. They clearly are uninformed about what Helen Thomas said, pretty much about U.S foreign policy, and what Zionism is, what Semitism is, so they need to understand that before they make very irresponsible decisions,” Rashid said at the protest.  

Protesters at WSU

Hasan Newash of the Palestine Cultural Office called the incident a human rights violation.  “This is a struggle for equality and civil rights not for only Arabs, but all Americans according to the First Amendment.  If she would have made the wrong comments I would have been the first one to condemn her, but when she condemns a political group that has foreign agenda it’s different,” Newash said.

“They should put her name back on it. Her name is what made that award. She’s one of our most notable alumni,” Beydoun said.

Ben Burns, director of Wayne State University’s journalism program said he supports the schools decision and the First Amendment doesn’t give anyone the right to have an award in their name. “There are consequences to free speech,” he said.