Speaking in Mich., Martin O'Malley slams anti-Muslim hate...we can not let fear defeat compassion

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from Niraj Warikoo at the Detroit Free Press



Martin O'Malley slams anti-Islam hate in Dearborn, Michigan

Speaking to Arab Americans in Dearborn, Democratic presidential candidate and former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley slammed "Islamophobia and xenophobia," saying the U.S. should take in more Syrian refugees.

"I stand for a more compassionate America," O'Malley said to about 200 people at the University of Michigan-Dearborn as part of a three-day conference held by the Arab American Institute. "We are a nation of immigrants and refugees. It's in our DNA...The enduring symbol of America is not the barbed-wire fence. It is the Statue of Liberty.

O'Malley spoke Friday afternoon in a city whose population is more than 40% Arab-American Muslim. His remarks were the most extensive of any presidential candidate so far this year about Arab-American and Muslim issues. Before his talk, he met with Syrian and Iraqi refugees in metro Detroit, listening to their stories.





O'Malley called for bringing in 65,000 Syrian refugees, more than what the U.S. government currently plans to take in. Noting that Germany is taking in 800,000 refugees, he said: "As a nation, we should step up...we are a large nation. We must do better."

Doing so, he said, will help America be a "moral leader of this world," saying "there are other ways to lead than at the end of a drone strike."

Niraj Warikoo ?@nwarikoo now15 hours ago
@MartinOMalley called for bringing in 65,000 Syrian refugees: "We are a nation of immigrants & refugees. It's in our DNA"

Referring to his Irish heritage, O'Malley said that many Irish immigrants once faced bigoted hostility like some Arab-Americans and Muslims face now. When he was governor of Maryland, O'Malley said he kept on his desk an old sign that read "Help Wanted: No Irish Need Apply," as a reminder of the prejudices newer groups faced in America. Some employers in America once refused to hire Irish-American Catholics.

"When I look in the eyes of immigrants, I see my grandparents," he said.

Niraj Warikoo ?@nwarikoo
Speaking in Dearborn, Gov. @MartinOMalley slams "Islamophobia and xenophobia...we can not let fear defeat compassion."

O'Malley slammed Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Detroit native Dr. Ben Carson for making anti-Muslim remarks. He said there is a disturbing pattern of anti-Muslim sentiment, saying "houses of worship...have been denied permits, worshippers exiting the mosque in Phoenix (Arizona)...greeted with protesters carrying assault rifles."

O'Malley said that a "shadowy network of hateful" groups is "scapegoating and marginalizing Arab and Muslim Americans."

O'Malley met with the Assad family of Garden City, featured in a Detroit Free Press story last month about Syrian refugees, and two refugees from Iraq who now live in Troy and Dearborn Heights. Moustafa Assad told O'Malley about leaving Syria for Turkey and then the U.S. this year.



Arab American Inst. ?@AAIUSA
Ahead of addressing #Yalla2016 candidate @MartinOMalley wanted to hear stories of #SyrianRefugees first hand.


Moustafa Assad of Garden City speaks to Gov. Martin O'Malley in Dearborn (Photo: Niraj Warikoo)


"I left everything behind," Radhia Fakhrildeen of Dearborn Heights told O'Malley. "Americans are very friendly."

Noor Al-Dabbagh of Troy talked about the challenges she has had finding medical care for her sick husband.

The three refugees spoke on a panel before O'Malley's talk with Jim Zogby, the longtime head the Arab American Institute, who called them "three heroes."

"They wanted their kids to live in freedom," Zogby said. "To make the decision to risk it all is a big deal."

O'Malley also touched upon the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying he supports the two-state solution.

Niraj Warikoo ?@nwarikoo
I asked @MartinOMalley after his Dearborn talk if his views on Israel differ from @HillaryClinton. He said he supports the 2-state solution.

"Both sides have to take steps to end this violence" and stop "provocative actions," he said.

O'Malley said the U.S. should get involved in the peace process, noting that peace eventually came to Northern Ireland because of American intervention.

"There was a time not long ago when people thought that a 700-year strife in a place called Northern Ireland, which had religious divisions seemingly intractable," would never end, O'Malley told the crowd. But "America took a role, America didn't walk way from the table."

"We can never give up on peace," he said. "As a nation, we have a unique calling I believe to always be about waging peace."

read article: http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2015/10/23/arab-american-institute-martin-omalley-muslims-syrian-refugees/74482448/

Haley Morris ?@haleymorris
@MartinOMalley: "When I look into eyes of my New American neighbors, I see eyes of my Irish great grand-parents I never met” #Yalla2016

Allison Farrand ?@AllisonFarrand
Former Gov. Martin O'Malley listens to the story of refugee Radhia Fakhrildeen at #Yalla2016 conference in Dearborn



Charlie Kadado ?@CharlieKadado
"I spoke up early & broke w/ my own party when it came to how we treated refugees," @MartinOMalley says. #Yalla2016



Arab American News ?@theaanews Dearborn, MI
@MartinOMalley on refugees: We can lead the world with compassion http://bit.ly/1kATcrl

"Assalamu allaykum; marhaba; kif halkum?" Peace be upon you; hello; how are you? Presidential candidate Martin O'Malley greeted a crowd at the University of Michigan-Dearborn in Arabic, and went on to condemn xenophobia and Islamophobia, which he said are trickling into mainstream politics. read article

[Fred Sanders]

1. No one is more progressive on Arab-American issues than O'M....and he is taking on the NRA

and prison and justice reform full steam with the same commitment and genuinely is sincere. He really should be more close to the top, but is not getting the press time .

If there were a preferential ballot this guy would be my second on the ticket....his intelligence and eye for details is amazing.

Have folks seen his Justice Reform plan? It is amazing in it's detail and clarity and is an actual detailed blueprint to the goal.

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2. I agree, Fred

...his consistency and focus on these issues of humanity is inspiring.

Thanks for the boost.

[Fred Sanders]

4. I would vote for O/M in a heartbeat if not for Clinton.....both formidable.....we are blessed with a

richness of candidates...I love them all....it is so hard to choose among the trio still left, because there is, objectively, only small degrees of separation.

And in the end it boils down to who will beat the GOP...that is the prime directive.

I still have Mark on my radar.....I hope he is able to get through the first primaries and remain in the hunt....I think the President O/M card is still in the deck.

I am surprised there is less support for him at least on DU....Clinton is still my no. 1, but I am open to persuasion, and I think I am not alone.

[pipoman]

3. No...there should be no new refugees brought to the US

Until all of the refugees already here are recognized and legitimized.

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6. these families and individuals shouldn't have to wait, their lives often at imminent risk

...while Congress bickers and dithers.

[BlueMTexpat]

8. I don't believe that O'Malley sees this issue

as either-or. He is for a highly inclusive US, which would certainly mean recognizing and legitimizing those who are already here.

He also would like to see all of us who are already US citizens treated fairly and equally. That's why he is an excellent candidate. Although I, like Fred upthread, am a staunch Hillary supporter, I believe that Martin is an excellent candidate as well. I too hope that he lasts longer in the primary contest.

I will repeat this yet again. We Dems are blessed with excellent candidates.

O'Malley also picked up an endorsement from the ex-Governor of my birth state (MT), Brian Schweitzer.

I'm still a mite pissed with Schweitzer for not running for MT's open US Senate seat in 2014, giving a RW GOPer a win there, when Schweitzer - despite certain issues - could easily have defeated him. But he at least has the sense to recognize that O'M is a great Dem candidate.

[BlueMTexpat]

5. One of my tech-savvy sons believes

that O'Malley is the best candidate on alternative energy issues as well, having attended several relevant meetings at which O'M was present. O'M discussed the issues with a high level of competence and comfort - even before he announced his candidacy for President.

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7. that's been my experience with the Gov. here in my state

...he approaches all of the issues he advocates with a sheaf of solutions and a plan for action.

How wonderful that your son was able (and interested) to involve himself in those meetings. If O'Malley was there, you can be certain they were productive and dynamic.

[BlueMTexpat]

9. MD is my voting residence too and I think

a LOT of O'Malley.

Governor Hogan, not so much, I'm afraid. I only hope that the Dems in the state legislature can keep MD afloat.

[FSogol]

10. K&R. n/t

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[artislife]

12. O'Malley is so right on this.

After 9/11, my brother who worked for a nonprofit in LA helping immigrants in the community started helping a lot of Middle Easterners who were being stopped, detained and held without being charged. He still does a lot for the South Asian community as well as the Latino community today.

This is a great OP.

[elleng]

13. "Both sides have to take steps to end this violence" and stop "provocative actions," he said.

O'Malley said the U.S. should get involved in the peace process, noting that peace eventually came to Northern Ireland because of American intervention.

"There was a time not long ago when people thought that a 700-year strife in a place called Northern Ireland, which had religious divisions seemingly intractable," would never end, O'Malley told the crowd. But "America took a role, America didn't walk way from the table."

"We can never give up on peace," he said. "As a nation, we have a unique calling I believe to always be about waging peace." . .

"I spoke up early & broke w/ my own party when it came to how we treated refugees."

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15. "We can never give up on peace," he said.

"As a nation, we have a unique calling I believe to always be about waging peace."

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14. kick

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