Community celebrates 72nd anniversary of Lebanon independence
DEARBORN — Community members turned out to Byblos Banquet Hall on November 27 to celebrate the 72nd commemoration of the independence day of Lebanon. In attendance at the event were Consulate General of Lebanon-Detroit Bilal Qabalan, Abdallah Ajram, Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad, Dearborn City Council President Susan Dabaja,...Detroit police chief: Armed residents reduce terror attacks
DETROIT — Police Chief James Craig said violent extremists and shooters would be less likely to target Detroit for fear armed citizens would shoot back. "A lot of Detroiters have CPLs (concealed pistol licenses) and the same rules apply to terrorists as they do to some gun-toting thug," Craig told the Detroit News. "If you’re a...
Mass shootings and the media: What is terrorism?
December 3rd, 20150 A police investigator around the suspects' vehicle in San Bernardino, Dec. 3DETROIT — Following the shooting that claimed 14 lives in San Bernardino, Ca., reporters asked Police Chief Jarrod Burguan twice about the suspects' "ethnicity" and once about their "nationality."Burguan did not answer those questions during a press conference...Town hall addresses community image, resistance to refugees
Panelists address anti-refugee sentiment and other issues during the town hall meeting Monday, Nov. 30DEARBORN — When Mohamed kills, he represents every Muslim and Arab American. When Michael kills, he represents only Michael. That is how Walid Saleh Fidama, executive board member of the National Association of Yemeni Americans,...
Where is Sharia Law? Dearborn ranked No.1 Christmas Town in the state
December 1st, 20150 DEARBORN – Sharia Law in Dearborn? Not according to a list that ranks the best Christmas cities in the state. Onlyinyourstate.com, a website used to find attractions and events in various states, has ranked Dearborn as the No. 1 Christmas Town in Michigan. Proclaiming Dearborn as the best place to be during...DuVall Elementary to hold dinner in honor of 6-year-old who lost battle to cancer
Lexs LampDEARBORN – DuVall Elementary School will be holding a Pancake Dinner to benefit 6-year-old student Lexys Lamp who lost her battle to cancer on Monday, November 23.The young girl was diagnosed with DIPG, Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. Her tumor was cancerous and could not be removed because it was located in her...
Jesse Jackson, community leaders urge welcoming refugees
December 1st, 20150 Panelists at the "All Lives Matter" town hall meetingDEARBORN — After the images of drowned Syrian child Aylan Kurdi surfaced, national efforts were focused on coming to the aid of refugees. But the tone of the conversation changed after terrorist attacks in Paris last month. Now national and state politicians are speaking out...Michigan minimum wage to increase Jan. 1
The Michigan State capitolLANSING — Michigan workers will receive a boost in pay next year. On Jan. 1, the minimum wage will increase from $8.15 to $8.50 per hour. The change to state law is the second step of a gradual 25 percent increase that will bring the minimum wage up to $9.25 by 2018. The new law, known as Act 138,...ISIS “threat” at Sterling Heights Meijer was misunderstanding
STERLING HEIGHTS — A customer's "threat" referencing ISIS that caused a Meijer store to evacuate customers on Monday was a misunderstanding, police said. The Meijer on 16 Mile and Van Dyke closed for about three hours for safety reasons. Local and national media reported on Monday evening that a customer left a backpack at...Ron Scott, renowned civil rights advocate, dies
Ron ScottDETROIT — Ron Scott, the founder of Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, died of cancer on Sunday. He was 68.Scott was an outspoken advocate for civil rights. His group organized rallies and brought attention to violence by law enforcement agencies against citizens. The coalition notably opposed a measure to implement...Jesse Jackson to address refugee crisis at Dearborn town hall meeting
Jesse JacksonDEARBORN - Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, will weigh in on the Syrian refugee crisis at a town hall meeting in Dearborn on Sunday at 4 p.m.The meeting, dubbed "All Lives Matter: Syrian Refugees in Peril", will be open to the public. It will take place at the Lebanese...
Woman escorted out of Dearborn Heights courthouse after ripping the Quran
November 26th, 20150 DEARBORN HEIGHTS – Dearborn Heights Police escorted a woman out of the 20th District Court on Wednesday, November 25 after she ripped out pages of the Holy Quran and began yelling obscenity towards the religion.The woman, who remains unidentified, appeared ruffled as she was escorted out of the courthouse. She was there with...
Arab Americans step up charitable efforts for Thanksgiving
November 26th, 20150 State Rep. Julie Plawecki (l) stands with volenteers at a charitable event in DetroitDETROIT — As volunteers gathered behind tables lining Third Street, Nahid Ayoub, the founder of Project Dignity, called on underprivileged individuals to join a pre-Thanksgiving feast on Wednesday. It was sunny but cold. Trays of chicken and...Dearborn Mayor selected as new Michigan Municipal League Board President
Jack O'Reilly LANSING – Dearborn Mayor Jack O’Reilly has been named the 2015-16 president of the Michigan Municipal League Board of Trustees.O’Reilly was selected as president by the 19-member board during the Michigan Municipal League’s meeting in Lansing on Nov. 20. O’Reilly succeeds former East Lansing Mayor Nathan...Khaled Beydoun named “Emerging Scholar” by higher education magazine
Khaled BeydounDiverse: Issues In Higher Education, an academic magazine, named prominent Arab American law professor Khaled Beydoun as an "Emerging Scholar Under 40."The magazine, which focuses on issues concerning diversity in American higher education, recognizes 12 young scholars every year.The list includes individuals, "recognized......
Henry Ford College to offer first bachelor’s degree program
November 26th, 20150 DEARBORN — Henry Ford College has launched its first four-year degree program. Students in the program can earn a Bachelor of Science degree in culinary arts. Classes will begin in the winter 2016 semester. "The multidisciplinary approach to hospitality education with the bachelor of science in culinary arts builds on...Dave Abdallah sworn in as Dearborn Heights City Councilman
Dave Abdullah with family and supporters at City Hall. DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Dave Abdallah and two other Council members were sworn into office at the Dearborn Heights City Council meeting on Tuesday, November 24 at City Hall. Friends and supporters of Abdallah, Ray Muscat and incumbent Lisa Hicks-Clayton packed City Hall to witness......
AFL-CIO to renovate, sell vacant Detroit homes
DETROIT — The AFL-CIO will invest up to $30 million to rehabilitate as many as 300 abandoned homes in the city through a partnership announced Monday. The AFL-CIO’s Housing Investment Trust said its Detroit Neighborhood Home Repair Program is aimed at stabilizing neighborhoods over three to five years, using union labor to fix...
ACRL elects Nasser Beydoun as new chairman
November 26th, 20150 Nasser M. BeydounDEARBORN — The Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL) has elected Nasser M. Beydoun as chairman of its board of directors, replacing founding chair Nabih H. Ayad. The non-profit civil rights organization said its mission is to "protect and advance" the community’s rights through community engagement, education...
Is Snyder retracting his position on Syrian refugees?
November 26th, 20150 Gov. Rick SnyderLANSING — Arab American and pro-immigration groups slammed Gov. Snyder last week and went as far as accusing him of Islamophobia for deciding to pause efforts to resettle Syrian refugees in the state. But the Michigan Office for New Americans said the governor is still committed to welcoming immigrants and refugees...
Duggan defends refugee screening process
November 26th, 20150 Duggan.On Monday, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan stood by his commitment to resettle refugees in the city. "We stand prepared in Detroit to do our share," Duggan said in terms of hosting refugees from Syria and elsewhere. He reiterated his pledge to welcome 50 refugee families per year to the city for the next three years. "We have the......
Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad: Be cautious but remain at ease
November 26th, 20150 Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad. DEARBORN — Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad told The Arab American News that the department is doing its best to ensure residents are safe following potential threats last week aimed at the community. A social media threat made by Navy veteran Sarah Beebe started a wave of fear and anxiety across the...
Turkey and hummus: Arab Americans go all out on Thanksgiving
November 26th, 20150 "When we love, we love to the extreme; when we celebrate, we celebrate to the extreme."DEARBORN — Dr. Heidi Abadeh puts cranberry and raisins in the rice she serves with turkey on Thanksgiving. She makes fried kibbe and hummus alongside mashed potatoes and corn. It's a culinary testament to being Arab and American. Arab Americans......
Dearborn Police’s internship program grooms students from community
November 26th, 20150 Officers in the Dearborn Police Internship Program with Chief Ron HaddadDEARBORN — The Dearborn Police Department’s latest group of interns are a diverse group of students who simultaneously attend Henry Ford College or the University of Michigan-Dearborn while working part time with the department. The internship program has been...
Wayne State lauds Arab American alumni and students
November 25th, 20150 Members of the Arab American Pharmacist Association at Wayne State University. DETROIT - Arab American alumni and community leaders gathered at Wayne State University on Wednesday, November 18, to honor the empowerment of its diverse student body. Wayne State's president, M. Roy Wilson; Osama Siblani, publisher of The Arab......
