Washington, DC | adc.org | January 18, 2024 – The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) is currently reconsidering the state legislature districts that would represent the greater Detroit metropolitan area, including Dearborn. ADC is calling on all of its Michigan members to email the commission and demand that they empower Arab American voters.
The MICRC’s goal is to empower Black voters in the area, whose power was unconstitutionally diluted in the previous process, but the maps being considered by the commission are doing so at the expense of Arab American voters. They are currently discussing maps which break up Arab American voters into three or more districts. Dearborn, Michigan has the most concentrated population of Arabs in the United States. By fragmenting the voting block, the commission would dilute the community’s voting power and deny them representation that reflects their interests.
Tell the MICRC Not to Fragment and Dilute the Arab American Community
ADC National Executive Director Abed Ayoub said, “It is unconscionable that in the process of empowering one minority community, the MICRC would fragment and dilute the voting power of another. Arab Americans, like all Americans, deserve representation that reflects them. The commission must consider maps which allow our community to stay and vote together.”
ADC has also submitted its own initial comment to the commission calling for the consideration of maps which ensure the long term representation of the Arab American community by those that mirror them and their interests.