LANSING, Mich., Feb. 6, 2024 — State Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) introduced House Resolution 182 today in response to the bigoted opinion piece about Dearborn published in the Wall Street Journal last Friday. Following the piece’s publishing, leaders from across the nation, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and President Joe Biden, have spoken up against the vile rhetoric leveled against the city and its residents.

“As a proud resident of Dearborn, I am deeply troubled by the fear-mongering and discriminatory language used by the Wall Street Journal article. By perpetuating anti-Arab and Islamophobic rhetoric, the article not only fosters division but also puts our community at risk of violence and prejudice,” Farhat said. “Dearborn is a vibrant community with a rich history and hardworking families who serve our country. We are proud of our contributions to Michigan’s history, from being the birthplace of Henry Ford to our diverse cultural heritage, which we share with the world. Despite the challenges we face, we remain resilient and committed to unity and understanding in our city and beyond.”

Pieces like the one published in the Wall Street Journal perpetuate harmful rhetoric, contributing to the vilification of Arab-Americans, including those who live in Dearborn. At a time when hate crimes are on the rise across the country, it is highly irresponsible to perpetuate such negative stereotypes and provide cover for those who would harm this community.

“We welcome the introduction of this resolution. It sends an important message that hate, bigotry and ignorance towards the Arab and Muslim American communities will not be tolerated in the state of Michigan. We thank Rep. Farhat for his steadfast commitment to his constituents in Dearborn, and Arab Muslims across the state. We urge all lawmakers in the Michigan Legislature to take a stand against hate and bigotry by supporting this resolution,” said Abed Ayoub, national executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

The resolution was referred to committee.

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