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American Arabs endorse Kennedy for Governor

Chris Kennedy is leading as the candidate of choice for American Arabs and Muslims in Illinois. Kennedy has shown a sensitivity to issues facing American Arabs among which is access and engagement in state government. Under incumbent Gov. Bruce Rauner, American Arabs have been marginalized and targeted with punitive hate-driven legislation punishing them for their expression of free speech on issues involving foreign countries. And Pritzker declined to attend several forums and events hosted by American Arabs. The prominent Arab American Democratic Club (AADC) is hosting a fundraiser for Kennedy to help him in the race

By Ray Hanania

Americans Arabs have been leaning heavily towards endorsing Christopher Kennedy in the March 2018 Democratic primary election race for Governor against rival J.B. Pritzker.

Leading the way is the Arab American Democratic Club (AADC) which has hosted candidate forums and fundraisers in the past. Kennedy had accepted an invite to speak to the Arab American Democratic Club. Click here to read the story.

Chris Kennedy is leading as the candidate of choice for American Arabs and Muslims in Illinois. Kennedy has shown a sensitivity to issues facing American Arabs among which is access and engagement in state government.

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner is an anti-Arab racist who has supported legislation to deny American citizens in Illinois the right to criticize a foreign country because they are Arab. He is being challenged for governor by Christopher Kennedy and J.B. Pritzker. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania

Under incumbent Gov. Bruce Rauner, American Arabs have been marginalized and targeted with punitive hate-driven legislation punishing them for their expression of free speech on issues involving foreign countries.

Rauner has also supported legal action that has been directed at several Arab Americans in activism and in journalism.

Most recently, Rauner enthusiastically endorsed a bill introduced to the Illinois General Assembly that punishes Arabs and Muslims who criticize Israel. The bill was originally sponsored by State Sen. Ira Silverstein and State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz.

Many American Arabs have criticized Israel’s settlements and the theft of land from Muslims and Christians living in the Occupied West Bank and in Occupied Jerusalem. Under the SIlverstein-Feigenholtz bill supported by Rauner, Christians and Muslims who criticize those settlements and support a boycott would be punished.

The legislation is racist and violates the rights of American Arabs like myself who unlike Silverstein, Feigenholtz and Rauner, served this country honorably and with distinction in the U.S. Military, during the Vietnam War. As a veteran, I am insulted by the legislation that Rauner, who claims to support veterans, endorsed out of political expediency.

Illinois gubernatorial candidate Christopher Kennedy addresses the Arab American Democratic Club brunch March 19, 2017. Photo courtesy of Steve Neuhaus

Pritzker declined to attend several forums and events hosted by American Arabs. The prominent Arab American Democratic Club (AADC) is hosting a fundraiser for Kennedy to help him in the race.

Here is the information, below, on the fundraiser for Kennedy:

The Arab American Democratic Club will host a fundraiser for Democratic Candidate for Governor Christopher Kennedy on Wednesday, November 8, 2017.

The event will be held at the Saraya Restaurant & Banquet Hall at 7011 W. 111th Street in Worth, Illinois.

On behalf of the Arab American Democratic Club Board it is with great honor to invite you in support of Chris Kennedy, the Democratic Candidate for Illinois Governor, who stands and defends Muslims and Arabs, unlike the other candidates that just want our votes and do nothing for us.

Most recently Chris Kennedy spoke in favor of a Mosque and Muslims in the western suburbs as other candidates stood by as if we do not exist as part of the political process.

Arab American Democratic Club fundraiser for Christopher Kennedy Nov. 8, 2017

AADC will accept donations of any amount made out to “Kennedy for Illinois”, 222 Merchandise Mart, PO Box 3362, Chicago, IL., 60654. For more information contact ben@KennedyforIllinois.com.

Therefore in order to vote for, support , be counted, and recognized as a valuable and viable community in a very effective picture, we as a united community have to stand up with candidates and elected officials who stand with us and support us.

The AADC will be hosting a fundraiser in support of the future Governor of the State of Illinois

Please join us in support of Chris Kennedy for Governor of the State of Illinois

We need your support and we need each other for our community to be counted and respected.

Do not hesitate to contact Samir Khalil at 1-773-719-3331.

Thank you,
AADC Board
Miriam Zayid
Khalil Khalil
Saad Malley
Rima Sweiss
Sonia Khalil
Ahmad Ramahi
Samir Khalil

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rayhanania

Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster at The Arab Daily News

RAY HANANIA — Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster

Ray Hanania is an award winning political and humor columnist who analyzes American and Middle East politics, and life in general. He is an author of several books.

Hanania covered Chicago Politics and Chicago City Hall from 1976 through 1992 at the Daily Southtown and the Chicago Sun-Times. He began writing in 1975 publishing The Middle Eastern Voice newspaper in Chicago (1975-1977). He later published “The National Arab American Times” newspaper (2004-2007).

Hanania writes weekly columns on Middle East and American Arab issues as Special US Correspondent for the Arab News ArabNews.com, at TheArabDailyNews.com, and at SuburbanChicagoland.com. He has published weekly columns in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, YNetNews.com, Newsday, the Orlando Sentinel, Houston Chronical, and Arlington Heights Daily Herald.

Hanania is the recipient of four (4) Chicago Headline Club “Peter Lisagor Awards” for Column writing. In November 2006, he was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist” by the New American Media. In 2009, Hanania received the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award for Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists. He is the recipient of the MT Mehdi Courage in Journalism Award. He was honored for his writing skills with two (2) Chicago Stick-o-Type awards from the Chicago Newspaper Guild. In 1990, Hanania was nominated by the Chicago Sun-Times editors for a Pulitzer Prize for his four-part series on the Palestinian Intifada.

His writings have also been honored by two national Awards from ADC for his writing, and from the National Arab American Journalists Association.

Hanania is the US Special Correspondent for the Arab News Newspaper, covering Middle East and Arab American issues. He writes for the Southwest News newspaper group writing on mainstream American issues.

Click here to send Ray Hanania email.