In a historic move Tuesday, Detroit became the first “city to TAKE ON HATE” and spoke out against hate crimes directed at Arab and Muslim Americans.
During a City Council meeting, Council Member Raquel Castañeda-López introduced a resolution to officially join the Campaign to TAKE ON HATE. She was supported by the entire City Council and Mayor Mike Duggan.
“The City of Detroit embraces the mission of the Campaign to TAKE ON HATE. As elected officials, we have an even greater responsibility to speak out against discrimination, xenophobia and hatred, because when the unacceptable becomes the 'norm', people’s human rights are threatened. In support of the Campaign, we call on all Detroiters to speak out against hate to protect the rights of our Muslim and Arab communities,” said Castañeda-López.
Receiving this support is essential to the Campaign. Hate crimes are on the rise. Following the murder of a man of Somali descent who was shot through his apartment door in Alberta, Canada and the killing of three Arab American Muslim students in Chapel Hill, N.C.; communities across North America have seen more attacks against Arabs and Muslims. Furthermore, the bias inherently built into standing federal, state and local policy jeopardizes the rights of all Americans, including Muslims and Arabs. TAKE ON HATE aims to change these policies, which negatively impact the community, while supporting those policies that proactively aid the community.
Michigan House members stand with TAKE ON HATE
In addition to the support from Detroit, 47 Michigan House members pledged their support to TAKE ON HATE in a public announcement Feb. 17.
House Democratic Leader Tim Greimel (D-Auburn Hills), Rep. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit) and their House colleagues on both sides of the aisle came together at the State Capitol to join TAKE ON HATE.
“We are proud to be from a state that is home to so many Arab and Muslim Americans, and we have welcomed Arab and Muslim refugees into our communities,” Greimel said. “We stand with all Americans, regardless of their ethnicity or religion, and stand against those who preach hate and incite violence.”
TAKE ON HATE welcomes the support of the members of the Michigan House and the City of Detroit. We are proud of their commitment to stand with us against hate, which has resulted in violence and the targeting of people because of their faith and ethnicity.
Take On Hate
http://www.nnaac.org/
Nadia Tonova
Director
National Network for Arab American Communities
A Project of ACCESS
A Campaign of The National Network for
Arab American Communities
2651 Saulino Ct., Dearborn, MI 48120
http://www.nnaac.org/
Nadia Tonova
Director
National Network for Arab American Communities
A Project of ACCESS
A Campaign of The National Network for
Arab American Communities
2651 Saulino Ct., Dearborn, MI 48120
