Commerce Secretary to Meet with Arab Americans
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke plans to meet in Dearborn on Tuesday with Arab Americans and Muslims to discuss ways their communities can help improve the economy, say local leaders and a Commerce Department spokeswoman.
Reaching out to small business owners, Locke is to discuss a range of issues that affect some metro Detroiters, including lack of access to capital and the 2010 U.S. Census. The meeting was organized by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, a civil rights and advocacy group with a chapter in Michigan, in partnership with the Commerce Department.
Arab Americans hope to address some of their concerns about civil rights, and how they say it affects their ability to do business. Local leaders said they will bring up the issue of profiling at borders when they travel, the freezing of economic assets, and access to the Department of Commerce. They say unfair treatment by security agencies has hampered their ability to conduct trade and make financial transactions that they say can help the local economy.
“The Arab-American community can play a vital role in helping turn metro Detroit around economically,” said Abed Ayoub, a Dearborn native who is legal adviser for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and helped organize Tuesday’s meeting. “Arab Americans and Muslims…want to do our part.”
Imad Hamad, regional director of the committee, welcomes Locke’s visit, saying that “together we can help the region get back on its feet.”
Locke’s planned visit would be the latest in recent months by a department head in the Obama administration. Last month, CIA Director Leon Panetta met with Arab Americans in Dearborn. And earlier this year, Department of Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack met with Arab Americans in Dearborn in separate visits.
Tuesday’s meeting with Locke is to take place at the Lebanese-American Heritage Club in Dearborn.
By Niraj Warikoo
Detroit Free Press
Contact NIRAJ WARIKOO: warikoo@freepress.com.