Edward Snowden’s brave choice
Edward Snowden is not a traitor. Nor is he a hero, at least not yet. But he probably will be martyred by an establishment that cannot abide critics.Both House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Senate Intelligence Committee chair Dianne Feinstein, D-California, have called him a traitor, which only shows how ignorant they are. Under the...Sectarianism and the irrational new discourse: Why Arabs must worry
My friend Hanna is Syrian and also happens to be Christian. The latter fact was rarely of consequence, except whenever he wished to boast about the contributions of Arab Christians to Middle Eastern cultures. Of course, he is right. The modern Arab identity has been formulated through a fascinating mix of religions, sects and races....Lebanese women caught at Detroit – Canada border trying to smuggle $59K in their bras
DETROIT — A mother and daughter who are both Lebanese were caught trying to smuggle close to $73,000 into the United States from Canada. An estimated $59,000 was found in the women’s bras. A criminal complaint was filed Tuesday in Detroit federal court. The mother, Moura El-Asmar, 51, and the daughter, Jacinta El-Asmar, 16,...
AAPAC begins endorsement process for upcoming elections
June 14th, 20130 DEARBORN — As election season draws closer, the Arab American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) will soon begin their process of interviewing candidates, in order to determine who will receive the organization's endorsement, before the August 6 primary.Formed in 1998, AAPAC’s membership consists of a diverse group of Arab American...70 years later, remembering the Detroit Riot of ’43
This month marks the 70th anniversary of the Detroit Race Riot of 1943, during which white and black residents of the city clashed and rioted for three straight days after a fight that had taken place between two groups on Belle Isle on June 20, 1943. The riots claimed the lives of 34 Detroiters, wounded 433 and caused $2 million in...Dearborn Planning Commission approves turning City Hall into apartments for artist
The Dearborn Planning Commission recently approved a plan to turn the current Dearborn City Hall on Michigan Avenue into work studios and apartments for low-income artists.The City had previously verbally agreed to sell the building for $1.65 million to Artspace Projects, Inc., a national non- profit organization that helps artists find...Dearborn’s city council approves fire merger, draws mixed reactions from Melvindale
DEARBORN — This Tuesday, the Dearborn City Council voted 5-0, to approve official plans of a fire department merger with the neighboring City of Melvindale. Officials from both cities are hoping to have operations up and running by September 1, after the Melvindale City Council approves the merger as well.While the decision to move...Arab American scholar and historian dies at 93
Alixa Naff.Arab American historian and scholar Alixa Naff passed away on June 8 at 93 years of age. Naff was widely known for documenting the lives of the first wave of Arab American immigrants. Through her research, Naff greatly contributed to the understanding of the early Arab immigrant experience in the United States, from 1880...
Dix: Home to culture and economic growth, pollution and neglect
June 14th, 20130 DEARBORN — Many Dearborn residents refer to "Dix," an area located just south of Michigan Avenue, between Miller Road and Wyoming Street, as if referencing an area that is detached from the City. If you ask some of the estimated 7,500 people, who reside in this area, they too will admit that they feel like they've been on their...
Gasoline stolen from underground tanks at stations caught on camera
June 14th, 20130 DETROIT — Abdul Beydoun, who owns a gas station here, expressed relief Wednesday, when two men were arrested by police, after getting caught pumping gasoline out of underground tanks and into a tank that was hidden in a van (pictured above) at his BP station. Beydoun says thieves have been stealing gasoline from stations...Protesters demand better pay for Walmart employees
DEARBORN -- Approximately 100 people gathered in front of the Walmart store on Ford Road on Friday, June 7, to demand better wages for employees.The demonstration was attended by Walmart employees, along with community members and leaders. "We gathered to stand in support of Walmart employees," said Community Liaison for “Good...High gas prices hurt Michigan’s economy
The State of Michigan had the second highest gas prices in the United States last week, according to AAA. Experts and citizens agree that the spike in prices is affecting the local economy badly.The average price of a gallon of gas here reached $4.24 last week; one cent short of the State’s all-time record high that was set in July...McCollough Unis student honored with multiple awards
Julia Cheaito.DEARBORN — McCollough Elementary Student Julia Cheaito, who recently completed the fifth grade and is moving on to junior high school this Fall received several awards this year for her outstanding academic performance. Cheaito, 10, was recognized by the school's department of Language Arts, Math, Social Studies and...Judge allows suit on border questioning of Muslims to move forward
MICHIGAN — On Tuesday, a federal judge in Michigan allowed a lawsuit against U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the FBI, which was filed over the repeated detention and questioning of Muslims at the United States-Canada border and other ports of entry, to move forward. The Council on American Islamic Relations of...State of Michigan sets new rules for trailers in Camp Dearborn
The State has also banned permanent structures that require footings from the Dearborn-owned Park that is located in Milford.The State of Michigan recently banned trailers, larger than 400-square feet from Camp Dearborn grounds. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has told Dearborn city officials that the State......
FBI to track hate crimes against Arab Americans
MICHIGAN — Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, a notable increase in hate crimes against Arab and Muslim Americans have been reported. According to reports from numerous leaders, representing various civil rights organizations, hate crimes against Arabs and Muslims remain on the rise, even more than a decade since the...Indiana University hosts 100 students from Middle East, Near Asia and North Africa
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — A successful program, instituted by Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, which provided dozens of college students from the Middle East and North Africa with information on how to become entrepreneurs last summer, is now being expanded to include students from Pakistan and Afghanistan as well.......
Turkia Mullin loses legal battle for medical benefits from Wayne County
Mullin.DETROIT - Former Detroit Metro Airport CEO and Wayne County Economic Development Director Turkia Mullin lost a legal battle this week to receive lifetime healthcare benefits from the County.A Wayne County Circuit Court judge ruled that Mullin does not qualify for lifetime medical care from the County, because she was a few days...ACLU Michigan appoints Arab American as deputy director
DETROIT — Longtime social justice advocate and local Arab American, Rana Elmir, was recently appointed to the position of deputy director of the Michigan office of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the country’s most prominent civil liberties organization. Elmir, 30, was promoted to the position about a month ago, by...Snyder issues executive order establishing Arab and Chaldean American Affairs Council
LANSING — On June 6, Governor Rick Snyder issued Executive Order 2013-9, establishing the Michigan Council on Arab and Chaldean American Affairs, which will be housed within the State’s Department of Civil Rights. Snyder.The new council replaces the Advisory Council on Arab and Chaldean American Affairs. The 10-member council will...
Scandal rocks ADC: Sexual harassment allegations against civil rights advocate shocks community
June 7th, 20130 EDITOR’S NOTERana Abbas, a source who was interviewed for this article is also a contributing editor at The Arab American News, and has held the post since late April 2013. In order to ensure her position on the issue didn’t have any influence over the article’s content, she was not involved in the reporting or......
Sexual harassment: A briefing on the concept and the law
June 7th, 20130 In light of the recent allegation of sexual harassment made by some women against a prominent individual in the Detroit Arab-American community, I would like to make some observations. By way of information, I wrote a book on a church conflict that involved some of these same issues. I am familiar with the law in such...Community reaffirms support for Robert Ficano at fundraiser
DEARBORN — On Monday evening, local community leaders hosted a campaign fundraising dinner at Byblos Banquet Hall for Wayne County Executive Robert A. Ficano. Ficano, who is seeking re-election this year, may face a greater challenge this time around, as the race comes on the heels of a term that has been surrounded with controversy......
Investigation reveals local convenience stores sell fireworks to minors
June 7th, 20130 DEARBORN — Last week, the City of Dearborn had released information regarding firework safety and handling, in order to prepare for the summer season which typically sees an increased amount of locals who participate in firework usage near holidays like Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.In 2012, the State of Michigan removed the ban...Parking on grass could be a misdemeanor in Dearborn
DEARBORN — To avoid being ticketed for parking on the street on Public Service Day, many Dearborn residents, who do not have driveways, have used empty lots in their neighborhoods to park their cars. However, this solution has created an issue with the City's parking enforcement officers.Last month, well known Arab American Dr.......
