YALLA VOTE ‘08 Our Voice. Our Future.

This has been a busy and exciting weeek here in Michigan – Tuesday was our big Yalla Vote Rally at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn with AAI President, Jim Zogby. After two weeks of careful planning and some last minute preparations (including an order of 10 pounds of tabouli!), the event was successful. Around 50 people were in attendance, including local leaders of various Arab American organizations—many of which are Yalla Vote endorsers—elected officials and candidates, along with community friends and AAI supporters. The crowd gathered in the beautifully decorated main hall of the museum, mingled, discussed their get-out-the-vote plans for the upcoming Michigan state primary elections, and enjoyed delicious Lebanese mezze.

Dr. Zogby, who flew in from D.C. that morning, spoke about the importance of getting out the vote in the state primary on Tuesday August 5^th. Looking back twenty-five years when AAI was founded, said Zogby, the Arab American community has come a long way. Indeed, at least in southeast Michigan, and particularly in Dearborn, Arab Americans are an integral part of the community, and the gathering of leaders and community members on Tuesday was evidence of that fact.

The evening also featured State Rep. Barb Farrah and Councilwoman Suzane Sareini who spoke about the impact of Arab Americans in the state legislature. Many influential Arab American leaders got their start by running for precinct delegates.

As Michigan’s general voter turn-out is expected to be dismally low on August 5^th, Yalla Vote volunteers are busy taking to the streets with flyers and calling up their neighbors to replace apathy with action and to make our voices heard come August 5^th—and beyond.