DETROIT – Joining the growing list of governing bodies and officials – including the City of Detroit, several Michigan House members and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell – Wayne County today publicly endorsed the Campaign to TAKE ON HATE.
At a meeting April 2, Wayne County Commission Chairman Gary Woronchak, D-Dearborn, introduced a resolution to officially join TAKE ON HATE, which strives to address bias and discrimination, particularly toward Arab and Muslim Americans, and stands against bigotry toward all people.
"It's only fitting that Wayne County, with our significant population of Arab and Muslim Americans, becomes the first county to take formal action in support of TAKE ON HATE. And it's equally appropriate that I, as the commissioner who represents Dearborn, be the one to introduce the resolution that we approved today,” Woronchak said. “This is a battle that residents in Dearborn and throughout the county have been fighting for more than a decade, and since it seems to be heating up again, I want our residents to know that we stand with them in opposing any and all discrimination and bias based on religion or ethnicity."
The resolution passed unanimously with vocal support from several commissioners and Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans.
“I am honored to support the TAKE ON HATE campaign and I welcome this resolution acknowledging the County’s support to eliminate hate and discrimination based on religion and ethnicity,” Evans said. “Discrimination in any form is unacceptable and we must not let it go unchallenged. Wayne County has a rich history of being culturally diverse and our population of Arab and Muslim residents represents a large portion of that diversity. It is my hope that standing against hate and discrimination will send a clear message of the importance of harmony and inclusiveness.”
The support of elected officials is essential to the Campaign, which is led by the National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC), a project of Dearborn-based nonprofit ACCESS. The bias inherently built into many government policies jeopardizes the rights of all Americans, including Muslims and Arabs. TAKE ON HATE aims to change the policies that negatively impact communities while supporting policies that proactively aid communities.
"The Campaign to TAKE ON HATE welcomes the support of the Wayne County Commission and Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans. We appreciate their promise to stand with us against hate that leads to violence and targeting of people because of their faith and ethnicity,” said Nadia Tonova, executive director of NNAAC.
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The Campaign to TAKE ON HATE strives to address issues of bias and discrimination, particularly toward Arab and Muslim Americans, and stands against bigotry toward all people.
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