The Arab American News Staff
Author's Posts
Palestinian American from Ohio imprisoned by Israeli court for activism
June 18th, 20210 YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A 75-year-old Palestinian American from Ohio has been imprisoned by Israeli authorities for activism. Jamal Nisser, a retired Palestinian American businessman from Youngstown, Ohio, has been sentenced to four months in prison by an Israeli court on charges of political activism, The Palestine Chronicle...
Back to normal: Michigan to lift capacity limits, mask requirements on June 22
June 17th, 20210 LANSING — on Thursday, Governor Whitmer announced an early end to all COVID-19 epidemic orders on gatherings and masking. Beginning June 22, capacity in both indoor and outdoor settings will increase to 100 percent and the state will no longer require residents to wear a face mask. Whitmer had originally announced a plan to lift...
Supreme Court shoots down Republican challenge to Obamacare
June 17th, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Republican challenge to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, failed in the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday. This was the third such a challenge to the law shot down by the highest court in the country since the law's enactment in 2010. The latest decision by the Supreme Court will keep intact the law,...
ADC: Workplace discrimination against pro-Palestinian voices on the rise
June 16th, 20210 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is looking for a federal hearing and investigation into rising incidents of workplace discrimination against employees who have expressed solidarity with Palestine and against Israeli apartheid and occupation. The ADC says it is responding to a surge of...
Gleaners brings summer food distribution for children to Dearborn
June 15th, 20210 DEARBORN — Gleaners Community Food Bank announced on Tuesday its Summer Food Service Program, with more than 80 food distribution sites operating throughout Wayne, Macomb and Oakland Counties. One of the food distribution sites this summer is the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn. Distribution will take place...
11-year-old author Zaynab Shebley launches first book, inspired by Lebanon visit
June 14th, 20210 ILLINOIS — Zaynab Shebley, an 11-year-old Lebanese American author, is launching her first published book, The Princess Hero. The children's book is inspired by Shebley's love for the environment and for influencing children to make a positive difference in the world one step at a time. Shebley's book was inspired by her first...
Omar clarifies remarks on Israel, U.S. war crimes, after Dem, GOP pushback
June 11th, 20210 WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) clarified earlier remarks regarding open investigations by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into war crimes committed by Israel, the U.S., Hamas and the Taliban, after backlash from both Democrats and Republicans. On Monday, Omar questioned U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken...
Senate confirms first Muslim federal judge in U.S. history
June 10th, 20210 On Thursday, the U.S. Senate approved President Biden’s nomination of Zahid Quraishi, a magistrate judge in New Jersey, to the federal bench, making him the first Muslim federal judge in U.S. history. Quraishi will serve as U.S. district judge for the District of New Jersey. The Democrat-controlled Senate voted 81-16 to confirm...
Pharmacist jailed for three years for tampering with COVID-19 vaccines
June 9th, 20211 Steven R. Brandenburg, 46, a Wisconsin pharmacist who pleaded guilty to trying to spoil hundreds of doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine because he was skeptical about them, has been jailed for three years, the U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday. Brandenburg was also ordered to pay about $83,800 in compensation to the hospital...
American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee announces new project to track xenophobia
June 3rd, 20210 The American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) announced a new project that will research, track and document anti-Arab and Islamophobic bias in the media, public discourse and from public officials. The ADC-Research Institute's (ADC-RI) Media Research Project, led by veteran journalist Ali Younes, hopes to expose xenophobia...
Redistricting Commission to hold meeting and public hearing in Dearborn on June 3
June 2nd, 20210 The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission will conduct a meeting at 5 p.m. and a public hearing at 6 p.m. on June 3 at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Avenue in Dearborn. Masks are required at all times while indoors. Individuals are encouraged (but not required) to RSVP in advance to...
Immigrants’ contributions recognized in Michigan, nationwide
June 2nd, 20210 LANSING — Contributions made by the state’s immigrant community were given a nod with a proclamation by Governor Whitmer, declaring June 2021 Immigrant Heritage Month. The state has joined a nationwide effort to collectively celebrate the history, culture and powerful influence immigrants have in shaping their communities and...
Hamtramck, River Rouge, other cities, receive grants to upgrade water systems
June 2nd, 20210 LANSING — Governor Whitmer announced this week grants awarded to different Michigan communities to help upgrade drinking water infrastructure towards safe, affordable tap water across the state. The grants come under the umbrella of the MI Clean Water plan. Under that plan Hamtramck receives $188,315 under the Drinking Water...
Prison guard in Connecticut fired over anti-Muslim meme
May 28th, 20210 CONNECTICUT — Officer Anthony Marlak, a prison guard at Connecticut’s Garner Correctional Institution, was recently fired from his job after discovery of a disturbing anti-Muslim meme he posted in 2018. Marlak's post reportedly depicted five Muslims with nooses around their necks. It was paired with the caption, “Islamic Wind...
U.N. rights chief says Israel’s attacks in Gaza may be war crimes
May 27th, 20211 GENEVA — In remarks to the Human Rights Council on Thursday, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said Israeli forces may have committed war crimes in their 11-day assault on the Gaza Strip. Israeli airstrikes killed at least 248 in Gaza, including 66 children and 39 women, before a ceasefire was announced last......
Whitmer appoints Jaleelah Ahmed, Amal Berry to Mid East affairs commission
May 26th, 20210 LANSING — On Wednesday, Governor Whitmer announced five appointments to the Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs. Of the five, three are reappointments and two are new appointees, namely Hamtramck Public Schools Superintendent Jaleelah Ahmed of Dearborn Heights and Dearborn’s Amal Berry, senior manager of global...
Ceasefire announced for Friday, as progressives push against White House stance on Israel
May 20th, 20210 Israel and Hamas announced a ceasefire across the Gaza Strip border as of Friday, the Palestinian Islamist faction and Egyptian state TV said, bringing a potentially tenuous halt to the fiercest fighting in years. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said his security cabinet had voted unanimously in favor of a "mutual......
Dems offer resolution blocking $735 million Israel weapons sale, Hamas official predicts ceasefire within days
May 19th, 20210 On Wednesday, Democratic U.S. lawmakers introduced a resolution seeking to block a $735 million sale of precision-guided weapons to Israel, in a response to continuing devastating attacks on Palestinians by Israeli forces. Since the fighting began on May 10, Palestinian health officials say 228 people have been killed in aerial...
Israel destroys AP, Al Jazeera tower; killing of Palestinians continues
May 15th, 20210 GAZA — Israel pounded Gaza, destroying a tower block that housed the AP and Al Jazeera news organizations, and which it said had militant assets, with no sign of an end to almost a week of bombardment from Israel that has killed more than 130 Palestinians in Gaza. The death toll is rising from the worst escalation since 2014 and...
Hamtramck Public Schools to host free COVID-19 vaccine clinic
May 15th, 20210 HAMTRAMCK — Hamtramck Public Schools (HPS) is partnering with Rite Aid to provide vaccinations for individuals 12 and older at the Hamtramck Community Center at 11350 Charest St. this upcoming Thursday. HPS recommends families schedule an appointment to receive a COVID-19 shot. The clinic is offering the first dose of the Pfizer...
Vaccinations for Dearborn students available May 20 and 21
May 14th, 20210 DEARBORN — Dearborn Public Schools is adding vaccination dates for students next week. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gave the green light on usage of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for the 12-15-years-old age range this week. Michigan's health authority told providers late Wednesday that they can proceed......
Michigan to begin vaccinating adolescents 12- to 15-years-old following CDC recommendation
May 12th, 20210 LANSING — Providers in Michigan can now begin vaccinating adolescents to protect them from the COVID-19 vaccine. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced Wednesday that providers can begin vaccinating adolescents 12 to 15 years of age, following a vote by the Centers for Disease Control and...
Aiyash, freshman lawmakers, introduce COVID response bill package
May 7th, 20210 LANSING — In an effort to address exacerbated conditions faced by Michiganders since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, State Rep. Abraham Aiyash (D-Hamtramck) and four other Detroit first-term House colleagues introduced a five bill package this week. Aiyash joined Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.), Helena Scott (D-Highland Park),......
FBI recognizes Michigan Muslim Community Council for COVID service, fostering dialogue
May 2nd, 20210 DETROIT — FBI Special Agent in Charge Timothy Waters announced on Thursday, April 29, that the Michigan Muslim Community Council (MMCC) has received FBI Detroit’s Community Leadership Award for 2020. The field office said the MMCC is a committed member of FBI Detroit’s multicultural engagement council and in that role has...
Pandemic relief funding available to restaurants, bars: Here’s what to know
April 30th, 20210 Restaurants, bars and other food and drink establishments across Michigan hard hit by COVID-19 can now apply for funds from the $28.6 billion in federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund direct relief being provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) under the American Rescue Plan. “Restaurant owners and other food......
