Gilmour made hasty decision to remove pioneering journalist Helen Thomas’ name from the Spirit of Diversity Award at WSU after her comments on Zionism, but said he did not believe she is anti-Semitic.

DEARBORN — Roughly nine months after admitting that he pulled the Helen Thomas Spirit of Diversity journalism award too abruptly, Wayne State University President Allan Gilmour was expected the city to be the keynote speaker at Friday, Oct. 21’s 19th Annual American Arab Chamber of Commerce Build Economic Bridges Banquet at The Henry Hotel. 

AACC Executive Director Fay Beydoun said that the organization chose to invite Gilmour based on his status within Michigan’s economy. 

“Mr. Gilmour is a major player in Michigan’s economy, specifically southeast Michigan,” she said. “His accomplishments regionally as a top executive with Ford Motor Company as the Chairman of the Community Foundation and an effective board member of the new economic initiative (are noteworthy), and his experience and role complement the mission of the Arab American Chamber of Commerce.” 

In response to his scheduled appearance, however, a boycott of the event and picketing in support of Thomas, a longtime White House correspondent and Arab American, was expected to occur outside of The Henry Hotel in Dearborn where Gilmour’s speech was expected to be held. 

While the Arab Student Union of the University of Michigan-Dearborn helped to sell tables at the AACC’s banquet last year, President Mahde Abdallah said that he and other ASU members would not attend the event and boycott it this year because of the choice of speaker. 

Arab Student Union members joined by community leaders and activists picketing Gilmour appearance at the American Arab Chamber of Commerce banquet at The Henry hotel in Dearborn on October 21, 2011. Photo: Nafeh AbuNab

“We turned down the tickets when we found out that Allan Gilmour was the speaker,” he said. “We don’t agree with inviting someone that wouldn’t reach out to our community or address our concerns, we feel that it’s a mistake to invite him.” 

Thomas, a WSU alumnus, had her award pulled after she made comments at a Dec. 2, 2010 dinner in Dearborn saying that “Zionists control the White House, Congress, Wall Street and Hollywood.” 

Gilmour said in response to Thomas’ comments in January about Zionists that he didn’t believe Thomas was anti-Semitic but said that it is “clear that Jews do” believe she is based on the comments, saying “…It’s how the recipient gets it.” 

CAAO Representatives were told that WSU would form a task force or an academic setting promoting a better understanding of the Middle East in response as part of a plan to compensate Arab Americans and concerned stakeholders. CAAO asked to have input into the makeup of the task force. 

According to Matt Lockwood, the WSU Director of Communications, the task force has been formed and will begin meeting early next month. It will be comprised of people from WSU and the surrounding community and focus on how the university can expand and build upon its lineages with the Arab American community. 

Fay Beydoun said that Gilmour would announce the creation of the task force, titled “The Arab Advisory Council,” at the dinner. 

CAAO spokesman Osama Siblani said that the organization was not consulted as to the makeup of the task force, however, and also said the move seems as if it was hastily completed by WSU in order to save face or to halt the debate on the subject of Helen Thomas and the abrupt, unthoughtful actions against her. 

Lockwood said the task force was “selected in consultation with both internal and external stakeholders.” Siblani said he believed that the task force doesn’t hold any significance and it is not worthy of a response.

Ali F. Beydoun, President of the Arab American Student Union at WSU, plans to participate in the counter-protest and boycott of Gilmour’s speech and said members of his organization will join him. 

“If you’re going to disrespect the Arab American community and the many others around the world who agree with us by doing what they did to Helen Thomas then you’re not going to have the privilege of keynoting one of our community events,” he said. 

Ali F. Beydoun also participated in a protest on campus against the removal of Thomas’ award. He said that WSU has not lived up to its obligations to mend fences with the community. He also was disappointed that Gilmour was invited by the chamber. 

“They’ve invited Gilmour to keynote without the consensus of the community…We’re not seeing the unity necessary for anyone to take us seriously yet (on issues like these),” he said. 

According to Fay Beydoun, guests of the AACC are mostly excited about Gilmour’s speech regarding the region’s economics and the creation of the council, but she also said that some guests have voiced concerns with the decision to invite him. 

“This is an exciting event for the leaders and members of our community, as a community we need to bring regional leaders closer to us so they can have a better understanding of our community.” 

The ASU said it is asking community and business leaders to boycott the banquet and withdraw their support.