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
Imad Hamad, Executive Director of the American Human Rights Council

George Floyd Reaffirms our Humanity

Posted on June 9, 2020June 9, 2020 By Imad_Hamad No Comments on George Floyd Reaffirms our Humanity
SHARE ...
          
 
  

  • Tweet

George Floyd Reaffirms our Humanity

Racism is a universal challenge. There is no society on earth that is free from racism. While the US and other countries have made progress to be less racist, racism still exists. The death of George Floyd has resulted in avalanche of condemnation and massive protests. This reaction to Mr. Floyd’s death is a clear indication that there is a critical mass in society that is against all forms of racism.

By Imad Hamad

Racism is a universal challenge. There is no society on earth that is free from racism. While the US and other countries have made progress to be less racist, racism still exists. The death of George Floyd has resulted in avalanche of condemnation and massive protests. This reaction to Mr. Floyd’s death is a clear indication that there is a critical mass in society that is against all forms of racism.

We should not accept racism in any form. We can do better. Racism goes against core American values- equality and freedom. One can’t be free if they are faced by racism. It is inhibiting. Racism is a lived reality for African Americans and people of color. It is a basic fact. Of course, this does not mean you live in a racist society in a racist. We don’t. We live in a country that has a racism problem.

Mr. George Floyd’s death shook society to its core. It was so brutal and so senseless. It was videotaped. There was no way denying it or explaining it away. While abuse of police power is a universal problem, it falls especially hard on African Americans. Overwhelmingly, the police people who do their job honorably. But as we all saw on TV, it takes only one officer and other officers standing by to tarnish the image of all police and sour the national attitude to police and policing.

Imad Hamad, Executive Director of the American Human Rights Council
Imad Hamad, Executive Director of the American Human Rights Council

Mr. Floyd’s death came as a painful reminder that racism can’t be ignored or used for political expediency. It is deadly. It is a life or death matter. People of conscience are rightfully angry.

The outpouring of anger was spontaneous. As an activist with decades of years of activism I can attest that this moment is exceptional and transformational. We see protests worldwide and in nations that don’t even have a race issue nearly as critical as the US does.

This means one thing: We all see ourselves in George Floyd. We see our humanity in him and we relate to him. His death is our death and we are all outraged by it. Just like with Covid 19, George Floyd reminded us of our common humanity. As humans, we are all vulnerable to the coronavirus. As humans, we are all vulnerable to the excess of state use of force. Being human being today is a salient part of the identity of every human being on planet earth.

This anger is real and sincere. It is a manifestation of the basic decency of average human beings. No one is getting paid, there is no free food. There is no celebrity entertaining the crowds. It is a genuine outpouring of human empathy and sympathy.

There are issues with policing. We have thousands of police departments in this country. We have hundreds of thousands of police departments. There are common problems. There is the issue of transparency and accountability for abusive police. It is a fact that abusive police are costly to society. Police who engage in serious abuse cause the city to pay millions in damages. And what do all the major abusers, a small fraction of all the police, have in common: a history of complaints that resulted in minor discipline, if any. This has to change. We are all paying for our abuse.

The first obligation of government is preservation of life. The most important human right is the right to life. If one of us has their life threatened, whom do we count on? The government represented by the police. It is truly tragic and a breach of the social contract when the police cause the death. Tragic and senseless.

There is nothing special about George Floyd. He was an ordinary man. But his brutal death has resulted in an extraordinary moment. Mr. Floyd never expected that his life will end the way it did. He never expected his name to be known worldwide.  He just wanted to be- to exist.

This time we have the momentum for real change. In a democracy, the relationship between the people and the police tasked with protecting them and serving them cannot be adversarial and confrontational. A dysfunctional police-community relationship is bad for policing and bad for democracy.

Time is due to move forward and change the reality of policing throughout the US. The whole world is looking at us. The solution is our shared responsibility. This is not a partisan or ideological issue. Racism is a pandemic, the cure is embracing our human race.  We owe it to George.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Imad_Hamad
Imad_Hamad
Director, Columnist at American Human Rights Council
Imad Hamad is the director of the American Human Rights Council based in Greater Detroit.

The American Human Rights Council (AHRC) is dedicated to defending and protecting human rights as outlined in the U.S. Constitution and the United Nations 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The AHRC was formed to protect these rights and advocate for anyone whose rights are being violated or denied. To that end, the AHRC will build a tenacious, objective, and carefully guided advocacy program that will serve to defend individual human rights, whenever and wherever they are being infringed upon.

Reach Imad at ihamadusa@gmail.com
Imad_Hamad
Latest posts by Imad_Hamad (see all)
  • AHRC’s 2022 Spirit of Humanity Gala a Great Success - October 26, 2022
  • City of Dearborn’s Tribute to Debbie Dingell, well-deserved farewell  - September 28, 2022
  • AHRC Calls for Moral Consistency on Human Rights, Urges President Biden to Pause His Trip to Israel: - May 24, 2022

  • Tweet

SHARE ...
          
 
  
 
          
 
 Tweet 
Bloggers, Commentary, Culture, Events, Guest Columnist, Imad Hamad, mainstream, Opinion, racism Tags:AHRC, American Human Rights Council, Arab Americans, Black Lives Matter, George Floyd, Imad Hamad, Minneapolis, protests, racist

Post navigation

Previous Post: Annual Update for Vanunu Mordechai, Israel’s nuclear whistleblower and Captive
Next Post: Racist social media posts force one of Minneapolis’ largest Arab groceries to close

Related Posts

  • Oum Kalthoum Café Luxor.Photo courtesy of Abdennour Toumi
    Tipping and Bargaining in Egypt: Bakhshesh or Sadaqa Abdennour Toumi
  • Media Twists Facts to Make Israel Look Good in Conflict With Palestinians American Arabs
  • Netanyahu trivializing the Holocaust for selfish political gain Arab World
  • Eid al Adha holiday to be observed on Sept. 11 Arab World
  • Animals rescued from Gaza zoo Arab World
  • Christopher G. Kennedy, announces his candidacy for election as Governor of Illinois, Feb. 8, 2017.
    Chris Kennedy to run for Illinois Governor American Arabs

More Related Articles

Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia, candidate for Illinois Secretary of State Candidates rallying in race to succeed Jesse White as Secretary of State American Arabs
Iran Torture Jon Stewart ROSEWATER Israel Torture Vanunu Youtube Arab World
Salameh Zanayed Arabs of Chicagoland Book. Photo courtesy of Salameh Zanayed Arab community mourns passing of Salameh Zanayed American Arabs
The Christian community in Jerusalem celebrates the century old traditions in honor of the Holy Mother of God. Thousand crowded the entrance to the Church of her Empty Tomb lighting candles all the way down descending the stairs into the crypt. This magnificent church was built in the 5th century and destroyed in the 7th century by Chosroes the Persian. Only the crypt of the church was preserved and the Crusaders erected the existing building over the crypt. Photo Courtesy of Maria Khoury Extreme Christian Zionists not helping America or Israel Activism
International Women’s Day, Alfred Nobel and Mother’s Day American Arabs
Sam Jammal, candidate for Congress in the 39th District in California. Photo courtesy of Sam Jammal Campaign Sam Jammal thanks voters for their support Activism

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