Skip to content
  • Image
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Podcasts
  • Email
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • News
  • Features
  • Comment
  • Store
The Arab Daily News

The Arab Daily News

Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem

  • About
    • About
    • Our Writers
    • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
    • Book Store
    • Contact
    • Submit Book Reviews, Press Releases
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Corrections Policy
    • Profile on Ray Hanania
    • Submit Press Release
  • Features
    • Food
    • Book Review
    • Humor
    • Movies
    • Travel
  • Arab Stores Targeted
  • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Community Network Page
    • Arab Heritage America resources
    • Directory
      • Groups & Organizations
      • Mosques, Churches
      • Restaurants
      • 2008 & 2014 Arab Media Directories
    • National Arab Heritage Month
    • Video: Chicago Arab History
    • Video: Photo Array of Chicago Arabs
    • Overview of Arabs in America
    • Hanania standup comedy
    • Arabs on the Titanic
    • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
    • Arab News Ray Hanania Radio
    • Ray Hanania on Politics Podcast
    • Podcast Info
    • Hanania Podcast intro
    • Live Arab Radio
  • Your Views
  • Hanania on Tiktok
  • Toggle search form
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12 American Arabs
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd American Arabs
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action American Arabs
  • Citgo Gas Station and Quik Mart at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago ordered closed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot because a street gang member with an AK-47 killed someone in front of the store. Only Arab and Muslim stores are being closed by the Mayor
    When Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot targeted Arab businesses in 2021 and 2022 Activism
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast Arab News
  • State Rep. Cyril Nichols interviewed on live Arab American radio in Detroit with host Ray Hanania Friday Dec. 9, 2022
    Nichols discusses need to improve Arab-Black relations in Chicagoland American Arabs
  • Voting sticker issued to voters in Cook County elections in 2016. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Gov. Pritzker Announces Six Appointments to Boards and Commissions — no Arabs included American Arabs
  • Closure notice posted on the doors and windows of Arab American businesses during Mayor Lori Lightfoot's closure of Arab owned stores in June - Sept. 2021. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Pritzker again ignores needs of Arab businesses in latest appointments Activism
  • Arab American Democratic Club (AADC) official candidate endorsements for the November 8, 2022 General elections.
    Arab American Democratic Club issues endorsements for Nov. 8, 2022 Cook County Illinois elections Activism
  • Arab Democrats urge NO VOTE on Gov. J.B. Pritzker re-election bid Activism
  • Assyrian American GOP issues endorsements in Nov, 8, 2022 elections
    Assyrian American GOP group endorses candidates in Illinois Activism
  • Abdullah Hammoud, elected Mayor of Dearborn Nov. 2, 2021. Photo courtesy of Abdullah Hammoud Facebook Page
    AHRC’s 2022 Spirit of Humanity Gala a Great Success American Arabs
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts Arab World
  • Rep. Cyril Nichols to be feted by supporters at fundraiser Saturday Oct. 22 Activism
  • Stand up For Human Rights website, United Nations
    UN experts condemn Israel’s ‘sadistic’ punitive measures against French-Palestinian rights defender Salah Hammouri Activism
Cup Foods, 3759 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407

Minneapolis racial firestorm began at Arab American-owned store

Posted on May 31, 2020May 31, 2020 By rayhanania No Comments on Minneapolis racial firestorm began at Arab American-owned store
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

Minneapolis racial firestorm began at Arab American-owned store

The tragedy that resulted in the death of George Floyd and sparked a national wave of riots, arson, looting and violence began at the counter of an Arab American grocery store in Minneapolis where Floyd allegedly tried to purchase items using a counterfeit 20 dollar bill. The employees called the police who then arrested Floyd and tried to get him into their police car. When he refused, the police tackled him to the ground. Officer Derek Chauvin used his knee on Floyd’s neck to hold him to the ground apparently causing him to choke to death

By Ray Hanania

A firestorm of protests, arson and looting that has consumed Minneapolis and the nation over the police killing of George Floyd began at the counter of an Arab American grocery store, Cup Foods.

Employees working for Mahmoud Abumayyaleh, the store’s owner, called Minneapolis police Monday after Floyd, 46, allegedly tried to use a counterfeit $20 bill twice to make a purchase.

“What took place outside after that was not in our hands,” Abumayyaleh said in an NBC TV interview.

“The murder and execution was something done by the police and the abuse of power. The police brutality needs to stop,” Abumayyaleh said adding he knew Floyd as a customer and someone who was always pleasant. He said he didn’t know Floyd had died until the following morning.

Cup Foods, 3759 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Cup Foods, 3759 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407

“We were all outraged,” adding, Floyd “may not have even known that the bill was counterfeit.”

In the four days that followed, protestors vandalized, looted and burned down more than 228 stores in Minneapolis and the incident has become a major part of the political battle for president with Democrats attacking President Trump.

Protestors maintained a daily vigil in front of the store at 3759 Chicago Avenue, painting walls and the street with murals and graffiti memorializing Floyd. Abumayyaleh and his three sons, Samir, Adam and Mahmoud, have reportedly gone into hiding in the face of a wave of threats against them that have inundated social media. They took down their store’s Facebook Page and the store’s phone number was disconnected.

Photo from Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dawn.valadez1/posts/10157127045316466

Minneapolis has more than 50 Arab and Muslim owned stores mostly north of where the incident occurred, all operating under statewide COVID-19 restrictions. Arab store owners said they feared speaking out publicly about the incident. An unidentified man answering the phone at one Arab-owned store told the Arab News that both the killing of Mr. Floyd and vandalism against businesses “is wrong.”

Arrested and handcuffed, Floyd refused to enter a police car, and police threw him onto the street while one police officer used his knee on the suspect’s neck to hold him down.

Floyd died 10 minutes later in front of the Cup Foods store as members of the public video-taped the arrest and Floyd’s death, and taunted police with epithets and cries of police brutality.

The FBI and Justice Department were brought in to supervise an investigation, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) filed 3rd Degree Murder charges against Derek Chauvin, the police officer who restrained Floyd on the ground with his knee.

Jaylani Hussein, Executive Director CAIR Minnesota, executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), joined the protestors demanding that all of the police officers involved in the incident, not just Chauvin, be arrested and charged.

Arab News Newspaper front page May 31, 2020 Arab Store Owner point of George Floyd death

“We demand that all the officers involved in the killing of George Floyd be arrested and charged accordingly. Because of the seriousness of the crime, and the pain it has caused the community, we ask that no bail be granted to those officers once they are all arrested,” Hussein said.

“Yesterday, CAIR-Minnesota joined other civil rights and community organizations at a peaceful protest to call for the arrest of the four officers.”

The Floyd death also provoked a national debate after President Trump weighed in on the tragedy. Trump had ordered the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department to take over the death investigation and described the incident as “the very sad and tragic death in Minnesota of George Floyd.”

Trump’s aides said he watched the videos of Floyd’s killing and was “very upset by it.”

In a statement on Twitter, President Trump wrote, “When the looting starts, the shooting starts.”  

In response, Twitter imposed new censorship rules that flagged Trump’s Tweet as “violating rules against glorifying violence.”

The White House countered the president “did not glorify violence. He clearly condemned it.”

Trump responded he would sanction biased media like Twitter.

“A small handful of powerful social media monopolies controls a vast portion of all public and private communications in the United States,” said in a statement Thursday.

“They’ve had unchecked power to censor, restrict, edit, shape, hide, alter virtually any form of communication between private citizens and large public audiences”

“I understand the hurt. I understand the pain,” he said. But he argued that “looters should not be allowed to drown out the voices of so many peaceful protesters,” Trump said.

“The family of George is entitled to justice and the people of Minnesota are entitled to live in safety. Law and order will prevail.”

But that wasn’t enough for critics who attacked him when he denounced the protestors who were engaged in widespread arson, vandalism, looting and destruction of property throughout Minneapolis.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a Democrat and longtime Trump critic, said, “Donald Trump’s comment last night was profoundly dangerous. We must stand in firm solidarity and say this is totally unacceptable no matter who is the speaker … His goal is to polarize and inflame racist urges. We can absolutely not let him prevail.”

(Originally published in the Arab News Newspaper May 31, 2020.)

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
rayhanania
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.

Follow RayHanania on Gettr.com, the uncensored Twitter Ray Hanania on Gettr, the new Twitter
rayhanania
Latest posts by rayhanania (see all)
  • Israeli-push behind effort to ban Tiktok in the United States - January 19, 2023
  • Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12 - January 18, 2023
  • CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd - January 12, 2023

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
Activism, Arab News, Civil Rights, Culture, Features, News, Politics, Ray Hanania, Terrorism Tags:Arab American, Arrest, arson, Black Lives Matter, George Floyd, looting, Minneapolis, riots

Post navigation

Previous Post: A Covid-19 USS Liberty Remembrance Day
Next Post: Annual Update for Vanunu Mordechai, Israel’s nuclear whistleblower and Captive

Related Posts

  • News media, reporters, microphones, Journalists at the UN School in Beit Lahi, Gaza Strip wait for the press briefing by António Guterres, the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations. Guterres visited Palestine August 29 and 30, 2017. Photo courtesy of Mohammed Asad.
    Iraqi authorities arrest Samir Obeid at Baghdad checkpoint Arab World
  • Elected officials and Arab community leaders at the Arab American Heritage celebration at Oozi Restaurant April 10, 2019. Photo courtesy of Anthony Caciopo
    Hyatt Magazine to host Arab Heritage Month reception American Arabs
  • Obama hosts Iftar in honor of Ramadan American Arabs
  • Jewish Arab American’s horse American Pharoah wins Triple Crown American Arabs
  • Eileen Fleming, American Dreams, Radicals and Reporters American Arabs
  • Kayrouz urges Lebanese expatriates to strengthen homeland Activism

More Related Articles

Suzan Bushnaq's works are now mounted in Palestine Museum US. Based in Kuwait, Bushaq uses vibrant color and an impressionistic approach to express the multifaceted vitality of women. Palestinian Museum opens in New Haven American Arabs
POTUS Trump and Russiagate Vis-à-vis Kissinger and the USS LIBERTY Activism
Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi journalist and columnist with the Washington Post courtesy of Mr. Khashoggi's Twitter page Saudis identify suspects in murder of Jamal Khashoggi Arab World
Imad Hamad, Executive Director of the American Human Rights Council AHRC Office and Volunteers Working Remotely, Our Work Continues American Arabs
Qatar Emir Tamim Al-Thani Courtesy of the Arab News Newspaper Al-Thani family raises red flags as Qatar prepares to host 2022 FIFA World Cup Arab News
ADC Michigan calls on removal of segregationist’s statue American Arabs

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • OPINION COLUMNS
  • Tiktok.com/@RayHanania
    Israeli-push behind effort to ban Tiktok in the United States
    January 19, 2023
  • Ghassan Rubeiz
    To what extent is Hezbollah responsible for the current crisis in Lebanon?
    January 17, 2023
  • Image from Rashid-al-Din Hamadani's "A Compendium of Chronicles. Image courtesy of Wikipedia
    Why allow religious extremists to re-define Islam in the West?
    January 10, 2023
  • CAIR Executive Director and co-founder Nihad Awad
    This Thanksgiving, let’s use our Blessings for good
    November 23, 2022
  • NEWS
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12
    January 18, 2023
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd
    January 12, 2023
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action
    January 11, 2023
  • Citgo Gas Station and Quik Mart at 3759 W. Chicago Ave in Chicago ordered closed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot because a street gang member with an AK-47 killed someone in front of the store. Only Arab and Muslim stores are being closed by the Mayor
    When Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot targeted Arab businesses in 2021 and 2022
    January 4, 2023
  • NEWSWIRE
  • Arab Democratic Club Feb 12, 2023 Forum & Brunch flier
    Arab Democrats host forum for Chicago and suburban candidates Feb. 12
    January 18, 2023
  • The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announced Dr. Manal Fakhoury has been elected to the position of Chair of the National Board of Directors, and that attorneys Spojmie Nasiri of California and John Floyd of Texas have joined the organization’s National Board.
    CAIR Announces Dr. Manal Fakhoury as New Board Chair, New Board Members Spojmie Nasiri and John Floyd
    January 12, 2023
  • AHRC Executive Director Imad Hamad
    AHRC: Honor Dr. King Day with Civility, Unity, and Action
    January 11, 2023
  • Stand up For Human Rights website, United Nations
    UN experts condemn Israel’s ‘sadistic’ punitive measures against French-Palestinian rights defender Salah Hammouri
    October 19, 2022

Creative Commons License
All work on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Sices-Ad.jpg
  • ZiyadBrandLogo-2016BlackRedBackgrnd.jpg
  • 08-09-21-Ziyad-Ad-Pantry-essentials.jpg
  • BOOK REVIEWS
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib, book cover. Photo courtesy of Cune Press
    Stories My Father Told Me by author and artist Helen Zughaib
    November 1, 2021
  • ENTERTAINMENT
  • Hussam al-Mayman, The Mayman Show, podcast Arab News
    Arab News launches third season of The Mayman Show podcast
    December 15, 2022
  • Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    Interlink 2022 Cookbooks Make the Best Holiday Gifts
    October 24, 2022
  • Comedian Ramy Youssef courtesy of his Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ramysfaceboo/
    “Ramy” cable series melds Arab world reality with every day American life
    October 22, 2022
  • The Ray Hanania Radio Show Live Wed 5 PM EST in Detroit, Washington DC, Ontario and on Thursday in Chicago. Watch the program live at Facebook.com/ArabNews
    Second Season of “The Ray Hanania Show” Arab American radio launches April 6
    April 4, 2022
  • American Arab CHamber President HassanNijem accepts the Proclamation from Chicago Ald. Roderick Sawyer at the Chamber dinner March 30, 2022
    Chicagoland celebrates Arab American Heritage Month
    March 31, 2022
  • New-iTunes-1400-x-1400-The-Ray-Hanania-Show-Podcast-Icon-300-x-300.jpg
  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png
  • powerpr300x300ad.jpg
  • Podcast-iTunes-Logo-Chi-City-Hall-1985.jpg
  • terroristbookcover-300-x-300.jpg
Arab News Newspaper Logo
Read the Arab News, the leading English language newspaper in the MIddle East

Follow Ray Hanania at Gab.com, MeWe.com and IDobbinate.com, the alternatives to Facebook and Twitter Censorship.

Click here to get information on The Ray Hanania Radio Show and its podcasts

Copyright © 2023 The Arab Daily News.

Powered by PressBook Premium theme