Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem
Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and two other Democrats went at it in a live debate on CNN Tuesday night. But during the more than two hours of discourse, there was only one mention of Israel and nothing about the escalating violence and oppression of Palestinians. What does that all mean about Middle East…
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Thousands of Muslims gathered at Toyota Park in suburban Chicagoland to celebrate the Eid al -Udha, Feast of the Sacrifice and listened as statewide leaders denounced anti-Muslim and anti-Arab racism by presidential candidates including Donald Trump and Ben Carson By Ray Hanania Bridgeview, Illinois – More than 14,000 Muslims at a suburban Chicago stadium Thursday…
Read More “Chicagoland Muslims reject criticism from Carson, Trump at Eid gathering” »
Donald Trump is being attacked for not correcting a supporter who claims President Obama is a Muslim. But very few Republican candidates or many in the mainstream American news media have demanded the same of other candidates. Trump may not be John McCain, but he is no different than most of the Republicans running for president. So why only attack…
Read More “Hypocrisy on Obama being a Muslim, and anti-Arab racism” »
Instead of introducing a law to urge Israelis and Palestinians to make peace and avoid violence, Illinois Legislators State Sen. Ira Silverstein and State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz introduced a law to strip Americans of their Constitutional Rights of Free Speech and to defend Israel’s extremist policies including its discrimination against Christians and Muslims, the theft of civilian lands and…
Read More “How Silverstein and Feigenholtz Strengthen Extremism and Violence” »
Veteran American Arab congressman retires from his West Virginia congressional district after serving 38 years representing Americans and American Arabs. Rahall is the longest serving American Arab in politics and most admired in public life. His voice for principle and justice will be missed By Ray Hanania When I first got involved in politics in the early…
Increasingly, Dubai is demonstrating how profit and greed can overcome principle and justice, opening its doors without a whimper or a protest to allow Caterpillar, a company with a 60 year history of supporting Israel’s destruction of Palestinian homes, lands and lives to establish a base there. Caterpillar announced this week that it is building a…
Read More “Dubai welcomes company that drives Palestinian destruction in Israel” »
American Arabs have been urging the U.S. Census for years to include a category that will help empower America’s growing Arab community. But racism among public officials has stood in the way. But Census officials said this week that they will “test” using a new category to include American Arabs “Middle East and North Africa” this…
Read More “US Census will “test” using Middle East in count” »
Podcast: Talk of the Town Radio with host Ray Hanania on YahalaVoice.com Friday 3:30 PM CST Chicago time, on www.YahalaVoice.com (and second half broadcast on 1450 AM Radio (4-4:30 PM CST) At the top of the show, we speak with guest Salman Aftab, an influential Muslim American activist in Chicago politics describes why he supports…
Read More “Podcast: Aftab defends Mayor Emanuel; Sonia Khalil on her election” »
Rahm Emanuel has been Chicago’s most anti-Arab mayor, for no real reason. On Tuesday, February 24, many American Arab voters and activists celebrated Emanuel’s failure to win the 50 percent of the votes he needed to win re-election and that he has been forced into a run-off against pro-Arab Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia. It’s the first time in Chicago…
Read More “Mayor Rahm Emanuel stumbles in re-election bid” »
By Ray Hanania One of my first journalism reports was written in 1976 when I was asked by the City of Chicago to cover a meeting between Morocco’s Washington D.C. Ambassador and Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley. The meeting was at City Hall and was intended to commemorate the longstanding friendship between the Arab country of Morocco and the…
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On Sunday, February 8, 2015, the American Middle East Voter’s Alliance Political Action Committee met with Mayoral Candidate Jesus Chuy Garcia and the Asian American leadership in Chicago and announced its formal endorsement of Jesus Chuy Garcia for Mayor of Chicago. AMVOTE-PAC’s Chairman, Judge William J. Haddad (Ret.), stated on Sunday that: “Today, AMVOTE-PAC issued…
Read More “Chicago Arab political group issues election endorsements” »
By Ali Younes Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal finally spoke the truth and showed his true colors during his recent interview with CNN when he decried and insulted Muslims and Islam. The truth Jindal revealed was not about Islam or Muslim as he thinks he did, rather, it was about his racist and twisted views of…
Read More “Bobby Jindal Shows his Racism,Ignorance ,Should Apologize to Muslims” »
By Ray Hanania Patrick Quinn has been touted often as a “friend” of the Arab American community in Illinois. As a governor, elected in 2009 to succeed his former running mate who was sent to jail, Rod Blagojevich, Quinn romanced the Arab community leading them to believe that in exchange for their support they would…
Read More “Arabs ignored as Illinois Governor leaves office” »
By Ray Hanania The Arab American Democratic Club this week announced it will endorse Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and will host a fundraiser “salute” for Garcia to support his candidacy for Mayor of Chicago in the Feb. 24, 2015 election against anti-Arab Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Many other American Arabs, however, are supporting Ald….
Read More “Arab Democratic Club endorses Garcia over Fioretti” »
American Arab Samantha Haddad Webb discusses her candidacy for alderman of Chicago’s 10th Ward in the February 24, 2015 election and the issues she hopes to address when she gets into the Chicago City Council Samantha Haddad Webb, candidate for alderman of the 10th Ward in Chicago, Illinois, talks about her candidacy and issues she believes…
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American Arabs must fully engage in elections by voting Samir Khalil, the director of the Arab American Democratic Club of Illinois discusses the roll American Arabs play in local politics and in elections. Khalil discusses the recent luncheon which hosted dozens of elected officials including Gov. Pat Quinn, Samantha Haddad Webb the candidate for 10th…
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Podcast Mayoral candidate Fioretti vows to re-establish Chicago Arab Advisory Commission Fioretti promises to recognize and work with Chicago’s rich racial and ethnic diversity that Mayor Emanuel has abandoned By Ray Hanania Chicago Mayoral candidate Robert “Bob” Fioretti said that one of his first acts as mayor will be to re-establish the role of the city’s “vibrant and…
AAI launches voter drive in conjunction with National Voter Registration Day Organizations in key states will participate in the Arab American Institute’s Yalla Vote campaign in conjunction with National Voter Registration Day on September 23 to register voters and engage the public on issues important to our community. AAI Executive Director Maya Berry, says American…
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