The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a recent anti-Arab racist outburst by Farmington Hills School Board Trustee Angie Smith targeting US Senate Democrat candidate Dr. Abdul El Sayed.
In recent comments, Smith said of El Sayed, who is an Arab American: “You have to know how to work the room, don’t just come in here speaking Arabic, don’t come out with your Arabic music on.”
SEE comments via X page of Sam Robinson.
“We condemn Smith’s inaccurate and misguided comments, which have undertones of anti-Arab racism, “said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid. “Given the history of racist tropes deployed against African Americans in politics, it is disgusting that Smith would replicate such for political purposes.”
Walid, who is also African American, also noted that Smith has a history of making contentious and unfounded remarks pertaining to race while serving in her position in Farmington Hills.
SEE: Farmington school board chaos: Superintendent, 2 board members resign (WDIV 4)
NOTE: CAIR is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that does not endorse political candidates.
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CONTACT: CAIR-MI Executive Director, Dawud Walid, (248) 842-1418, [email protected]; CAIR-MI Lead Staff Attorney, Amy V. Doukoure (586) 943-8823, [email protected]