Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem
Chicago aldermen move to re-establish Arab rights Chicago has been friendly and supportive to the American Arab community for many years. One of my first journalism assignments was covering Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley in welcoming the Ambassador of Morocco to City Hall in 1976. As the only Arab newspaper reporter in the Midwest at the…
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Kennedy promises to bring diversity to Illinois government Christopher Kennedy, the son of slain former New York Senator and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, told an overcrowded gathering of American Arabs outside of Chicago that he would defend the rights of immigrants and fight to bring diversity back to Illinois government when elected governor of the…
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Arab Radio: Trump and the post Obama presidency Arab Radio discussion of the impact of President Barack Obama and his legacy, and the reality of the presidency of Donald J. Trump on Arab Radio in Detroit on Friday Jan. 13, 2017 with host Ray Hanania and guests Sahar Khamis and David Alexander Bullock. They also discuss…
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Arab Americans prepare to celebrate Christmas About half of Arab Christians celebrate the religious and secular holiday along with most mainstream Christians on Dec. 25, but the other half celebrates Christmas according to the old calendar two weeks later on Jan. 7. By Ray Hanania Christmas is both a time of Christian religious renewal as well…
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CPJ: Record 259 journalists jailed around the world A total of 259 journalists are currently in jails in 31 countries, including 53 jailed in the Middle East. The report from the Committee to Protect Journalists notes that Turkey has the largest number of jailed journalists, 81, followed by China, with 38. Despite political criticism of Russia, that…
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American Arabs share in 75th Pearl Harbor remembrance Millions of American Arabs have much to be proud of as the United States commemorates the 75th anniversary of the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 which pushed America into World War II. More than 15,000 American Arabs served during that war and represented a consistent stream…
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Arab and Muslim Americans View the Race to the White House Arab and Muslim American voters are not voting as a solid block because they are heterogenous ethnically, culturally, politically and socio-economically, even though they are culturally well integrated and emancipated, and politically involved and engaged. By Abdennour Toumi Muslim Americans are strongly leaning to…
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Arabs prepare to celebrate Heritage in Illinois Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley declared November Arab American Heritage Month in 1991, kicking off an annual commemoration of the contributions made by American Arabs to this country, the state of Illinois and to the City of Chicago. Mayor Rahm Emanuel killed the event but American Arab leaders are…
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Top iTunes podcasts on Arabs, Middle East. Podcasts offer an easy way to avoid the biases and bigotry of the mainstream American news media. All you have to do is create an account at iTunes (most people already have one), and “subscribe” (usually for free) to the podcast on your Apple or Android device. It’s that…
Life for Relief and Development accuses Bank of America in Federal Court for Discriminating Against Arab-American Charity Witness asserts a pattern of Arab-American account closures A lawsuit alleging that Bank of America discriminated against a Michigan-based Arab-American charity is winding to a close. Closing arguments are set for Friday. [Editor’s note: Bank of America is the…
Trying to collect accurate information on Arabs and Muslims in America is very difficult. And there is a reason for it. When a government can suppress accurate information on the demographics of a community, the government can control and suppress that community. That’s why it is so important to get the U.S. Census to change its…
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By Ali Younes Announcing that he is running for president of the United States, the 3 term republican Senator from South Carolina, Lindsey Graham, addressed the gathered supporters in his home town of Central, South Carolina that he wants to be “the next American Commander in Chief”. Graham stressed in his speech before the cheering…
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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By Ray Hanania The Arab Community Center of Houston, one of the most active and energetic organizations in the American Arab community, announced the election of its new board members this week. “The ACC accomplished many things in 2014 and we anticipate that 2015 will be even better,” newly elected ACC President Kamal Khalil announced. “To start…
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By Ray Hanania UPDATE 2, Friday: Bridgeview Police released the following statement: Bridgeview Police today interviewed two individuals believed to be involved in an exchange of comments on Facebook that involved allegations of threats made against the Bridgeview Mosque. Both suspects were interviewed at the Bridgeview Police Headquarters. The names of the persons of interest…
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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…
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By Ray Hanania There are more than 4.5 million Arabs in the United States, and about 7 million Muslims. The majority of Arabs are Christian, by about 65 percent and the remainder are Muslim. Of the 7 million Muslims, only about 22 percent originate from one of 22 Arab countries and the largest majority are…
By Nesreen Ballut & Reyad Ajour Etihad Airways Chicago celebrated their fifth anniversary at the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower on Thursday, October 30. This prestigious, private event marks a major milestone in the airway’s rapidly growing company which offers the complete package and experience for all clients traveling to Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Yahala Voice…
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