LIVONIA — Civil Rights Champion Reverend Jesse Jackson urged Arab Americans to fight injustice and stand up for their rights in the face of racism at the Arab American Civil Rights League’s (ACRL) second annual “Fight for Justice” Gala on Wednesday, Oct. 16. 

The event, which was emceed by Channel 7/WXYZ Reporter Nima Shaffe, was attended by hundreds of people, including community leaders, elected officials and civil rights activists.

Jackson was given a fiery introduction by the president of the Detroit branch of the NAACP, Reverend Wendell Anthony. He described him as a preacher, teacher, fighter, activist and father.

Anthony thanked “visionary” ACRL Chairman and Founder, Attorney Nabih Ayad for his efforts in standing for civil rights and praised The Arab American News Publisher Osama Siblani for speaking “truth to power.” He also thanked Arab American Institute President James Zogby for telling the truth with a different kind of analysis on the national stage.

Siblani and Zogby were both honored by the ACRL, prior to Jackson taking the stage for his keynote address. Ayad said both Siblani and Zogby have made a lifetime effort to protecting the community. 

“One thing that is worse than slavery is to submit to it,” said Jackson in an energizing speech.

Addressing Arab Americans, Jackson added, “You must fight injustice, but you cannot do it alone; that’s why we have people, like Reverend Wendell Anthony here tonight. Don’t retreat. Go forward and affirm yourselves. We come together and move with faith strength and power.”

Jackson, who is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s protégé, said King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech was a call to the American government to honor its promise to treat all American citizens equally under the law, after the end of the Civil War in 1865.

“The day he gave that speech, people from Texas to North Carolina could not use a single public bathroom. The day he gave that speech, we could not buy ice cream at Howard Johnson’s, or rent a room at the Holiday Inn. The day he gave that speech, black and Latino veterans had to sit in the back of American military bases,” said Jackson. “Even tonight, we are free but not equal.”

He discussed the challenges Arab Americans have faced after being placed on the U.S. No-Fly List, and the targeting of minority youth through the “Stop and Frisk” policy in New York and Detroit, as examples of inequality. 

Jessie Jackson

Jackson said, “We are free to be unemployed,” while banks get bailed out, after taking people’s homes. He added that cities, like Detroit, were bankrupt because factories closed, jobs were exported and the community was left with nothing.

The civil rights leader described racism as a “sickening disease,” which must be fought every step of the way.

Jackson has always maintained a close relationship with the Arab American community. Zogby was one of his senior campaign advisers, when he ran for president in the Democratic primaries in 1984 and 1988.

Zogby received the ACRL “Courage in Public Service Leadership” Award. 

During his award acceptance address, Zogby explained how, over the decades, Arab Americans have made their presence stronger than ever in the political scene. In the Dearborn August primaries, some first-time Arab American candidates were among the top vote-getters. 

“Think back to 1985, and think today; when we have people all over the slates running and winning, and leading. This is huge, and it all started 30 years ago,” Zogby said.  “Our community is needed in America. America doesn’t know how much it needs us. We have a voice on the issues that are facing our countries, whether it is Syria or Lebanon, Palestine, or avoiding wars we don’t need to get into. Arab Americans have a voice that America needs to hear.” 

Zogby praised Michigan State Rep. Rashida Tlaib, calling her a star in the community. He says Tlaib has faced the odds time and time again and always manages to come out on top.  “She needs our continued support, because when Rashida wins, we all win, so Rashida, I’m with you and know that the community is with you,” he said. 

Ayad highlighted a few of the accomplishments that the ACRL made this year, which included the removal of a paralyzed Arab American man from the U.S. No Fly List, after the organization brought suit against the FBI, U.S. Department of Justice and the National Terrorist Screening Center. 

In addition, when a Muslim American was banned from wearing the Muslim kufi hat inside a courthouse, the ACRL also filed suit against the security agency that forced the man to remove the hat.

The ACRL has also been vocal, this year, in speaking out against the mass closure of Arab American bank accounts. The group established a hotline for Arab Americans, who had their bank accounts closed without justification and managed to bring three law firms together to fight the bank closures and the financial institutions, in a class action lawsuit. The ACRL also joined civil rights organizations to speak out against “Stop and Frisk” policies being implemented in Detroit. 

“ACRL will continue to fight. We will continue to fight for your protection. We will continue to fight for your message. We will continue to fight for your constitutional rights. We will continue to fight for your God-given right to fairness and equality and the pursuit of justice,” Ayad said.  He said that although one would guess that Arab Americans are better off today than they were immediately after 9/11, the inescapable truth is that Arab Americans are substantially unfavored more now than after the attacks. 

Attorney James Allen introduced Siblani to the stage, where he was presented with the “Rehab and Ahmed Amer Lifelong Pursuit of Justice” Award. 

In his introduction, Allen explained that, as a young man in Lebanon, Siblani organized student protests over the educational system and lack of opportunities that were being provided in the country. 

He compared Siblani to Malala Yousafzai, at the time, before the teen was even born. The Pakistani teen was shot in the head and neck by the Taliban for advocating for the rights of women in education. 

“We are all proud, and rightfully so, of The Arab American News’ reputation for journalistic excellence, and its courageous, non-apologetic coverage of the world, as we see it,” Allen said. 

Upon accepting the award, Siblani said he was proud to share the stage with Jackson and Zogby. Siblani explained that it was only 29 years ago that he, Zogby and Jackson were called to Washington to meet with State Department officials on how to address the 1985 hijacking of a TWA flight that had dozens of Americans on board. 

Siblani accepted the award on behalf of his staff. “I’m going to accept it proudly, because of the hard working people at The Arab American News, who work day and night to deliver the message to the entire community, and sometimes to the entire country. So for them, not for me, they deserve this award,” he said. 

In speaking about the challenges that Arab Americans face today, as their rights and civil liberties continue to be violated, Siblani said, “We cannot accept our rights being violated and negotiate with the federal government.”

Siblani also discussed the paper’s role as a watchdog in the community and its commitment to upholding journalistic principles. 

“Some people think that I’m a bulldog, and some wanted me to be a lapdog, but do you know what I am? I’m a watchdog. I will not think twice about striking anyone and any organization that reaches out and hurts any individual or groups in our community, be it my friend or otherwise. We are here to tell the truth, and we will continue to do that for the next thirty years,” Siblani said.