Race politics: Racializing Islam and seeing beyond stereotypes
January 29th, 20170 DEARBORN— In today’s political climate, many people overlook the difference between the “religious” and the “fanatical”, as the media often hastily interlaces those terms when it comes to Islam. Western media have regularly designated persons who allegedly follow Islam and have committed atrocious crimes as Muslims in...Metro Detroit’s DACA immigrants anxious about new administration
By: Julia Kassem DEARBORN— President Obama’s second term ushered in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Act (DACA), legislation that protected immigrants from deportation by securing resident and immigration rights for children of undocumented immigrant parents. Since DACA was enacted, more than 600,000 young...
Detroit man executed outside son’s school
January 26th, 20170 DETROIT- Police are investigating the execution of a father in front of his son's school in southwest Detroit on Wednesday morning. Police said, after he dropped his son off and the boy entered Mark Twain Elementary School, the father was shot in the head by a suspect who was sitting in the backseat of a victim’s car. The suspect...
3-year-old killed by collapsed table at Dearborn Heights head start identified
January 26th, 20170 DEARBORN HEIGHTS- On Monday, family identified the 3-year-old girl, who died Friday morning when a cafeteria table fell from the gymnasium wall and struck her at a Dearborn Heights head start, as Lilliana Jade Kerr. The Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency, which runs the Head Start program at the school, expressed condolences...
Gene Hunt takes oath of office as Dearborn District Court judge
January 25th, 20170 DEARBORN, Michigan - Gene Hunt, the newest judge on the 19th District Court, received salutes and a resonant ovation in the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center on Mon., Jan. 23, as he took the oath of office. Hunt, a long-time attorney, was embroiled in a fierce 10-month campaign for the seat. “This is the largest audience...
Federal Middle Eastern officers inspire youth to pursue law enforcement careers
January 21st, 20170 DETROIT – As Arab and Muslim Americans prepare to reciprocate Donald Trump’s harsh scrutiny following the fruition of promised policies, a group of federal law enforcement officers are working to bridge the gap between themselves and a community critical of government. The Middle Eastern Law Enforcement Officers Association...
Lebanese-born game designer makes Forbes 30 under 30 list
January 19th, 20170 Beirut native Khaled Abdel-Rahman REDWOOD CITY— Beirut native Khaled Abdel-Rahman, who came to the U.S. on a student visa to earn his master’s degree in computer science from the University of Southern California, has made the 2017 Forbes 30 under 30 games list. Only 25-years-old, Abdel-Rahman has worked on the concept and design...
Community stands in solidarity with public education
January 19th, 20170 DEARBORN — Many of Donald Trump's cabinet nominees have been met with a wave of sharp criticism; and that holds especially true for Michigan's own Betsy Devos, Trump’s pick for Secretary of Education. DeVos was the Republican National Committeewoman for Michigan from 1992 to 1997 and served as chairwoman of the Michigan...
Actress Kathy Najimy to lead hijab march during Trump’s inauguration
January 19th, 20170 WASHINGTON - Lebanese-American actress Kathy Najimy is prepared to wear a hijab to stand in solidarity with Muslim women on Trump’s inauguration day. Najimy, best known for starring in "Sister Act" and Disney’s "Hocus Pocus," recommended women attending an anti-inauguration march in Washington on Friday wear a scarf around their...
Western Union apologizes for discriminating against Dearborn resident
January 18th, 20170 DEARBORN - Following a complaint against the Western Union by the Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL) that alleged it was discriminating against Arab and Muslim customers, the money-transfer giant has issued an apology on at least one case. Complainant Haidar Abdallah, a Dearborn resident, and a U.S. citizen, claimed that he had...
Former Dearborn residents share why they moved away
December 2nd, 20160 DEARBORN — Arab Americans living outside the eighth largest city in Michigan perceive it in both a somewhat positive and negative light. Many former Dearborn residents moved to nearby cities like Dearborn Heights, Northville, Bloomfield Hills, Livonia or townships like Canton. Others decided to move out of the state. When...
Why the former Dearborn city clerk is under investigation for embezzlement
December 2nd, 20160 DEARBORN — Exclusive details about a murky embezzlement case centered around now-retired Dearborn City Clerk Kathleen Buda have emerged, revealing the reasons State Police raided City Hall last December.On Dec. 16, 2015, Michigan State Police investigators obtained a warrant and seized several boxes of documents and other...
Jill Stein’s Michigan vote recount request challenged by Trump and hiked costs
December 2nd, 20160 LANSING — Dr. Jill Stein, the Green Party nominee for president, is spearing efforts to hold vote recounts in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Republican Donald Trump narrowly won those states. Although some election lawyers and data experts say there’s reason to make sure the ballots were counted correctly, there’s little...
Dearborn Heights police donate winter wear to school children
December 2nd, 20160 DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Dearborn Heights police officers grew their beards out for a fundraiser called "No shave November" and collected more than $2,100 to donate to local elementary school students in need of winter clothing. Thanks to the department's efforts, schools received more than 1,500 donated gloves and hats. On...
New state rep. Jewell Jones is youngest in Michigan history
December 2nd, 20160 INKSTER — Jewell Jones, 21, a lifelong resident of Inkster, became Michigan's youngest state representative upon his election Nov. 8. His two-year term will begin Jan. 1. Jones, a Democrat, succeeds the late Julie Plawecki, who died in June. He will represent the 11th District, which includes Inkster, Garden City and parts of......
Small business empowers refugee women and breaks employment barriers
December 2nd, 20160 ANN ARBOR — A common emotion most mothers carry is hope— especially when carrying their babies in their wombs. They paint pictures of the future and attain strength from carrying that feeling, which Brea Albulov called "Hope Carried." When the mother of two started her home-based business a year and a half ago, she didn't know...
Arab teens sue Detroit Police officers in botched hooker sting
December 2nd, 20161 CVS, located on Warren Ave. in Detroit.DETROIT — Attorneys for three Arab teens have filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court, claiming that Detroit police officers abused their authority and violated the teens' Miranda rights during a prostitution sting on Aug. 26. The lawsuit, filed Nov. 18 by attorneys Amir Makled and Nick Hadous,......
Arab American organizations help others enjoy Thanksgiving
November 24th, 20160 LAHC volunteers preparing turkey bagsLeading up to Thanksgiving, Arab American led organizations and schools partnered with major chains to give thanks to the community they are proud to be a part of. Many of them, not all included here, sponsored and organized canned food drives and distributed thousands of turkeys and meals to...
Corruption allegations put Macomb Township trustee back in hot water
November 24th, 20160 MACOMB TOWNSHIP — In the midst of a string of corruption busts in Macomb County by the federal government, new allegations have recently surfaced against Macomb Township Trustee Dino Bucci. Local entrepreneur Eddie Jawad claims Bucci abused his power and threatened to impede his establishment's business affairs if he did not...
Gov. Snyder looks to build relationship with President-elect Trump
November 24th, 20160 LANSING — On Tuesday, Gov. Snyder voiced his desire to try and build a relationship with President-elect Donald Trump. Although Snyder, who has only met Trump once, disagreed with and has spoken out against some of the comments Trump has made in the past regarding immigration, minorities, women and Michigan's manufacturing...
Local educators approach Trump’s presidency with sensitivity
November 24th, 20160 DEARBORN — Donald Trump's election to the presidency has led to dozens of reported conflicts among students at public schools across the nation. Some notable ones include a fifth grader bringing an air pistol on a school bus in Minnesota and threatening a third grade Muslim student. Several reports surfaced in numerous states of......
State Senator Knezek: Remain ‘vigilant’ during Trump administration
November 24th, 20160 DEARBORN — As Arab Americans and other ethnic minorities keep a concerned eye on President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet picks, Republican legislators are urging the public to stay calm and take comfort in the county's system of protective civil rights laws. Not everyone is buying that, including State Senator David Knezek...
Local school teaches Students the art of journalism
November 24th, 20160 Teacher April Kincaid helps a student with classwork - Photos by Marissa CampbellDEARBORN — Young minds are encouraged to grow, develop and create in the young journalists program taught to eighth graders at Unis Middle School – the only program of its kind in the Dearborn School District. April Kincaid, who teaches the......
Refugee and immigrant students’ first Thanksgiving experience
November 24th, 20160 McCollough-Unis school teachers and students celebrating Thanksgiving. DEARBORN — When three refugee students were asked last Friday what they learned about the history of Thanksgiving, the best friends brawled and talked over each other— all trying to answer. They eventually agreed to let Sleiman Alaeddin, a...
Iraqi American woman teaches fellow hijabis self-defense
November 24th, 20160 Zaineb Abdulla - Photo by Brittany Palm CHICAGO — Following Donald Trump's election, hate crimes rocketed and Muslim women wearing the hijab felt it essential to learn self-defense or at least carry shielding products like pepper spray. Zaineb "Zee" Abdulla, a Chicago native, said she looked up a self-defense move......
