Khaled Beydoun exemplifies academic activism
January 15th, 20160 Khaled BeydounDEARBORN — From exposing the mistreatment of domestic workers in Lebanon, to addressing racism within the Arab American communities, to combating Islamophobia in the media, Khaled Beydoun exemplifies academic activism. Beydoun, a law professor and critical race theory scholar, said politicians' xenophobic statements are...
Senator Peters applauds Obama for inclusion
January 14th, 20160 "Being from Michigan, I feel particularly proud about our very vibrant Arab American community." -Sen. Gary PetersDEARBORN — Sen. Gary Peters (D-Michigan) praised President Obama's final State of the Union Address, applauding the commander in chief for explicitly condemning anti-Muslim rhetoric."I was pleased that he made very strong...Detroit Pistons honor Arab American veteran
Retired Marine Sam Farran.Auburn Hills - At the Detroit Pistons game against the San Antonio Spurs at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Tuesday, January 12, Dearborn Heights resident and retired Arab American U.S. Marine Sam Farran was honored for his prolific history in the military.Farran, 54, garnered international media attention...
Police to watch live video feed from Detroit gas stations
January 12th, 20160 Mayor Duggan, surrounded by city officials and community activists, at a press conference announcing Project Green Light, Jan. 11 DETROIT — Violent crime has been a massive obstacle in the recovery of Detroit's neighborhoods. A disproportionate number of gas stations is turning into scenes for robberies and murder, so police are...Community pays tribute to Dennis Muchmore
Muchmore with local leaders at LaPita restaurant - Photos by The Arab American NewsDEARBORN — On Tuesday, January 5, community leaders and local and federal officials held an event at LaPita Restaurant to pay tribute to Dennis Muchmore, who served for five years as Gov. Snyder’s chief of staff. In August, Muchmore announced his...Dearborn train station wins environmental award
City leaders receiving the awardDEARBORN — The John D. Dingell Transit Center has earned a prestigious Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, officially acknowledging its environmentally-friendly building components.A presentation took place on Tuesday, Jan. 5.The Silver Certification was awarded under LEED...More immigrants settling in Troy over Dearborn
TROY — Troy has surpassed Dearborn, becoming the city with the highest percentage of foreign-born residents, according to a recent Census report. The 2014 census data show Oakland County has the highest number of new growth compared to other Metro communities, with more than 27 percent foreign-born residents, a 5.3 percent increase...Fata whistle-blower reaches $1.7 million settlement; new allegations emerge
Fata.DETROIT — The whistle-blower who helped expose Farid Fata, the former oncologist who intentionally misdiagnosed hundreds of patients with cancer, has settled his lawsuit against the criminal for $1.7 million. The case is not over yet, however, as the Free Press reports that additional allegations are emerging against new...Snyder signs controversial bill eliminating straight-party ticket option
Snyder.LANSING — Gov. Rick Snyder signed legislation that will update election law, aligning Michigan more closely with other states by eliminating the option for voters to select a straight-party ticket on the ballot. "Michigan is one of only 10 states that allows residents to vote for just a party affiliation rather than individual...
Residents divided over Dearborn Police shooting controversy
January 8th, 20160 Hundreds rally after the death of Kevin Matthew on Michigan Ave. on Monday, January 4. PHOTO: Ryan Garza, Detroit Free Press DEARBORN — A string of protests following the death of 35-year-old Kevin Matthew, an unarmed African American man who was shot by a Dearborn police officer on December 23, has left residents...
Interracial couples face bigotry from Arab Americans
January 8th, 20160 Rahiel Housey-Johnson at her wedding DEARBORN — Arab Americans who marry outside their race face bigotry and suspicion from friends, family and community members who look upon interracial marriages with skepticism. Nada, a Dearborn resident who wished to be identified by her first name only, said her family...
Dearborn Police’s history with ethnic communities
January 8th, 20160 Ali Baydoun (C), a mentally disabled Dearborn man, filed a lawsuit against Dearborn Police in 2014 for use of excessive forceDEARBORN - The case of Kevin Matthew isn’t the first time the Dearborn Police Department has come under fire for its handling of subjects with a mental disability. Despite the majority of the Arab...
Man who recited Adhan in 50 states aims to show beauty of Islam
January 8th, 20160 Jameel Syed reciting the Adhan DEARBORN — When Jameel Syed overheard three men bashing Muslims at a coffee shop, he did not debate them about theology or the First Amendment. Instead, he bought them drinks. "We have enough lawyers, enough politicians who are bulldogs in the fight upfront," Syed, who recited the Muslim call to...
Activists, religious scholars condemn Saudi Arabia’s execution of al-Nimr
January 7th, 20160 A side of the anti-Saudi protest in Dearborn, Jan. 3DEARBORN — Arab and Muslim American religious scholars and activists condemned Saudi Arabia’s Jan. 2 execution of Shi'a cleric Nimr al-Nimr. Hundreds gathered at a demonstration in front of the Henry Ford Centennial Library in Dearborn on Sunday, chanting anti-Saudi slogans and...Rana Elmir says vile comments confirm Muslims are threatened
Rana ElmirDETROIT — Rana Elmir, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Michigan, responded to hateful comments on a column she wrote for the Washington Post on Islamophobia. Elmir said the negative responses, which included profane personal attacks and implied threats of violence, prove her point about the......
Hoax story claims mass shooting occurred in Dearborn
December 31st, 20150 DEARBORN - The police department is warning residents about a fake article circulating online that claims there was a mass shooting in Dearborn. The department said A Facebook post claiming 13 people were killed and 24 were injured is a hoax. The Facebook post started spreading on Facebook late Wednesday night. Around 7:00...Massive Muslim voter outreach announced by Islamic coalition
WASHINGTON — Ten U.S. Islamic organizations announced that they have formed a coalition at a press conference held at the National Press Club to encourage one million Muslim Americans to register to vote before the 2016 election. The "civic empowerment initiative" aims to conduct a census of Muslims nationwide and address the rise...Civil Rights activist Daisy Elliott dies
Elliot.DETROIT — Daisy Elliott, a former Democratic state representative and fighter of racial and other forms of discrimination, died Tuesday, Dec. 22, according to her family. She was 98. Elliott was known to embrace members of both the Democratic and Republican Parties. She authored and co-sponsored Michigan's significant...
Late Yemeni American boxer wanted to be the next Muhammad Ali
December 24th, 20150 Hamzah Aljahmi DEARBORN — Yemeni American boxer Hamzah Aljahmi wanted to be a world champion. But his life and dreams ended tragically after his first professional fight. He died Tuesday of head injuries he sustained in a match Saturday, Dec. 19.He was 19-years-old.Aljahmi, who was born and raised in Dearborn, was fighting in......
Michigan GOP official criticized for internet meme on Muslims
DETROIT — Wayne Bradley, the Michigan Republican Party's director of African American Engagement, got a lot of heat for posting a Facebook meme seen as ridiculing Muslims. Bradley dismissed the picture as "light hearted and funny."But former State Rep. Rashida Tlaib, campaign manager for Take on Hate, said promoting bigotry is not...What about the neighborhoods? The Detroit bankruptcy one year later
Once upon a time, Detroit was about as close to a workingman’s paradise as ever there was in America. Understanding, of course, that there is a rather large gap between a workingman’s paradise and the popular imagining of that other place where everything comes up rainbows and all frowning is banned. The racism was intense and......
Dearborn elementary students sing Christmas carols for senior citizens
DEARBORN — Students from Becker and Oakman Elementary Schools celebrated the holidays singing Christmas carols to senior citizens at the Oakman Common Retirement Community. A group of about 30 students at both schools spent three months attending after school singing lessons to practice for the event, held on Thursday December...
Fordson’s Key Club continues to lead the state in student volunteering
December 24th, 20150 DEARBORN — For the last few years, Fordson’s Key Club, which continues to be one of the community’s most distinguished student organizations, has been leading the state. Consisting of more than 160 students and six board members, the organization frequently conducts volunteer work in the local area. It has won more awards......
