City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 3.

DEARBORN — At the city council meeting on Tuesday, March 3,  council members addressed negative media attention that has been directed at the city following the murder of three Muslim students in Chapel Hill, N.C.

In a resolution by Councilman Mike Sareini that was supported unanimously by the entire body, condolences were given to the victims: Deah Barakat, Razan Abu-Salha and Yusor Abu-Salha.

“Although I did not know of the families or the victims personally, I felt it hit home,” said Sareini. “With our city having the largest Arab American population in the country and many families, including myself, having children of this age in college seeking higher education and a better way of life, I felt it was necessary to speak on this tragedy.”

Following the aftermath of the Chapel Hill murders, local residents feared that Islamophobia would trickle into the region. The community was especially on edge following an incident at a local Kroger, in which two men from Taylor got into an altercation with a Muslim man who was grocery shopping with his family.

While many had feared that the incident was a hate crime, the city and federal authorities determined no charges would be placed on the individuals involved in the altercation after concluding an investigation. 

Sareini said he spoke to Mayor Jack O’Reilly and Police Chief Ron Haddad shortly after the Chapel Hill murders to express concerns about unwanted attention on the city.

“I can say without a doubt that I have full confidence in our police department’s ability and willingness to protect our citizens, as well as our courts to prosecute to the full extent of the law,” Sareini added. 

City Council President Susan Dabaja said that while the city’s job is to protect its residents, it’s also good to highlight their accomplishments. She referenced Bravo’s “Top Chef” winner Mei Lin, a former Dearborn resident who still has ties to the city.

Lin grew up in the city and attended Fordson High School. Lin’s family still owns and operates the Asian Cuisine restaurant “Kong Kow” located on Michigan Ave. in Dearborn. Lin attributed much of her hospitality skills to the restaurant; she helped her family operate the facility while she was growing up.  

Dabaja said Lin’s victory on television was noteworthy as it highlights the diversity that comes out of the city. 

“Dearborn is really unique in some ways in that we really have a diverse make up,” Dabaja said. “Having people from different cultures, different backgrounds and different religious upbringings makes us very unique. I’m very fortunate as a mother to have my children exposed to that. I welcome and I embrace the diversity that we have here.” 

Dabaja added that despite the negative attention that seems to target Dearborn from outside communities, residents here are more open minded and familiar with diversity.

“I know after the tragedy there were some comments made about Dearborn on social media,” she said. “But I know the people who live here care about each other, love each other and have each other’s backs; and that’s what’s important to me and that’s why I continue to chose to raise my family here in Dearborn.”

Councilman Tom Tafelski said the local media barely gives Dearborn any coverage when the news is positive. He noted that he was reading a local newspaper and had to turn to page 14 to discover that a Dearborn native had won “Top Chef.” 

Tafelski said that residents who grew up in Dearborn have pride, regardless of their ethnicity or what part of the city they came from. He noted that it has become difficult for him to raise his children in the city due to the constant negative attention.

“I could only wish that our local media, Dearborn media, as well as the Detroit News and Free Press, would cover the positive stories of Dearborn,” Tafelski said. “We focus so much on our area because of its diverse population, but yet the media tends to segment out one particular ethnicity of our diverse population.”