DEARBORN -With its 10th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Awards Dinner less than two weeks away, the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) called upon last year’s winner, Abbas Alawieh, to speak to a group of kids Monday in an event honoring the civil rights leader.

Winner of ADC’s 2008 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Abbas Alawieh speaks to a group of kids about King, struggles for human and civil rights and Palestine on Monday in Dearborn. PHOTO: Nick Meyer/TAAN

Alawieh spoke at ADC’s Martin Luther King Jr. Kids Day at Greenfield Manor to a group the organization hopes will include future scholarship winners, tying King’s legacy to the Palestinian struggle in the wake of three weeks of death and destruction in the Gaza Strip. The event was put on with the help of the Congress of Arab American Organizations (CAAO) and the Palestine Office of Michigan.
“I want us all to grow up to be Martin Luther Kings, and to stand up in support of Gaza,” said Alawieh during his speech to the crowd of kids that ranged in maturity from as pre-school to high-school.

The kids did just that as each was given a candle and a name of a fallen child in Gaza before proceeding one-by-one to a podium to read the name aloud to their parents and other family members in a touching show of solidarity and remembrance. Some were shyer than others, but all showed bravery beyond their years in speaking in front of the large, attentive crowd of more than 80 people.

“The point of this event was to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King and to tie it in with Gaza,” said Nadia Fadel, director of policy and community affairs for ADC.

“We want to bring the children out and encourage the youth to take action later on in life with their universities and organizations.”

Director of policy and community affairs for ADC Michigan Nadia Fadel holds up a microphone for kids who read off names of Palestinian children killed in Gaza in a 23-day Israeli onslaught that ended Jan. 17.

The children were given black t-shirts featuring the names of youths killed in the conflict and were encouraged to wear them to school during the week to drive home the point of the human suffering that took place in Gaza. Fadel said the students came from cities including Dearborn, Farmington Hills, Dearborn Heights, and Canton. The hope is that the message spreads to classmates who might not be aware of the urgency of the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The message was alive and clear on the day of the event as more children came up to the podium after everyone finished reading their names and stirred up enthusiastic chants of “Free, free Palestine!” and other slogans that have been used at pro-Gaza rallies since the attacks began.

Alawieh’s speech also served as a powerful motivator.

“In these times, I along with the entire Arab American community look to you now more than ever,” he said, referring to Dr. King.

“We live under an evolved set of Jim Crow laws we call the Patriot act today, Dr. King. If you were around today, you would not stand for it.”

The 10th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Awards Reception is to be held at Greenfield Manor, 4770 Greenfield Road in Dearborn, on Friday, January 30 at 6 p.m. A need for volunteers is expected and those interested should contact Mariam Habhab at mhabhab@adc.org or 313.581.1201.