{"id":1850,"date":"2018-10-14T02:43:25","date_gmt":"2018-10-13T23:43:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yemeniamerican.com\/en\/?p=1850"},"modified":"2018-11-16T22:40:02","modified_gmt":"2018-11-16T19:40:02","slug":"1850-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yemeniamerican.com\/en\/1850-2\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

The Yemeni American News<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

There are no Yemeni American elected officials in Dearborn, despite the overall growing Arab representation in local politics – namely the City Council and the Board of Education.A closer look at the turnout in the predominantly Yemeni American neighborhood of the Southend shows that in previous elections, the community has not taken the process as seriously as other parts of the city, leaving it on the fringes of Dearborn politics.
\nBut that trend may be changing. In the midterm primaries in August, the two precincts at Salina in the Southend saw the largest number and percentage of voters in the east side of the city.
\nIn past elections, Salina\u2019s voting stations traditionally came at the bottom in terms of turnout. This was true in the August 2016 primaries, when only one out of 47 precincts had a lower turnout than the Southend\u2019s Salina.
\nThe percentage of voters in the Salina precincts went from 14 percent in August 2016 to 35 percent in August 2018 – turnout more than doubled.
\nSo what happened in two years? How did the Yemeni American community become a significant voting bloc in 2018.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Realizing the consequences<\/strong>
\nActivist say exciting candidates and the increasing realization that voting matter are mobilizing the community.
\nMaali Luqman, an educator and community activist, said the election of Trump \u201cwoke up\u201d minority groups across the country to the reality that lack of civic engagement has real consequences.
\n\u201cAnother factor is that there is an increase in Yemeni American professionals shattering the educational and professional glass ceilings that were previously holding Yemeni Americans back, particularly the low-income early generations of Yemeni Americans,\u201d Luqman said. \u201cWith the increase of Dearborn Yemeni-Americans achieving higher education and entering advanced level careers, their knowledge of US social issues and the impact of exercising their rights increases, thus making them better equipped to understand the role of politics and the value of voting.\u201d
\nThe war at home was another motivator for Yemeni Americans to vote, according to Luqman because they know that their political participation can influence US foreign policy.
\nCertain candidates also played a role.
\n\u201cYemeni-Americans felt that the candidates running for office, particularly former Gubernatorial candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed whom they felt a religious affinity and immigrant-narrative connection with, needed their support to become the next governor to combat the issues their community faces,\u201d Luqman said.
\nAdel Mozip, a Yemeni American activist who is vying for a seat on the Dearborn School Board, said the community is starting to realize the consequences of elections.
\nHe added that the candidates\u2019 appeal to the community is also driving the up turnout.
\n\u201cWhen there are candidates on the ballot that truly advocate for the issues and reflect their aspirations, the community will come out strong and support these candidates,\u201d Mozip told YAN. \u201cYemeni Americans are not just voters anymore, but are now running for public offices.\u201d
\nMozip said the increased participation gives Yemeni Americans presence in the decision making process.
\nMozip, who is seeking to be elected to office himself, said ensuring Yemeni American representation in Dearborn politics is only a matter of time.
\n\u201cThe community is making strides, and surely, there will be representation in public posts once the community votes at higher numbers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Trump factor<\/strong>
\nAbdulgalil Ali Ahmed, a retired teacher and community activist, said there is a change in the outlook of Yemeni Americans. Early immigrants view their presence of the United States as temporary, but as the community grows, it is realizing the United States is their new home.
\nFurthermore, Ahmed added, the Trump administration\u2019s xenophobic policies against immigrants is pushing people to become more engaged. Yemen was on all three versions of Trump\u2019s Muslim ban. Yemenis across the US are struggling because of their inability to petition to bring their family members to the United States. The ban has torn families apart. The community can no longer be passive politically, Ahmed said.
\nHana Alasry, a graduate student at the University of Detroit Mercy, echoed Ahmed\u2019s comment, saying more Yemeni Americans are feeling the effects of governmental policies.
\n\u201cOver the past years, Yemenis in the United States see a more transparent impact of policy on their lives with examples like the Muslim travel ban and laws on surveillance,\u201d Alasry said. \u201cThere has also been a larger community organizing effort to encourage political engagement with efforts like making voting more accessible through ride-shares and translation services.\u201d
\nAhmed said in the past, the community has struggled to put forward candidates of its own because of lack of resources, but as the youth becomes more educated, more qualified Yemeni Americans are seeking public office.
\n\u201cI think the time has come to keep the momentum going,\u201d Ahmed said.
\nThe local Yemeni community faces unique challenges, including industrial pollution in the Southend.
\nAlasry said the increased turnout will push politicians to address the issues of Yemeni Americans.
\n\u201cWhen politicians know their chances of being voted in or out for the next term rely on the trust of the communities\u2019 they represent,\u201d she said. \u201cThe community can have greater influence and hold these policy makers accountable for their actions.\u201d
\nAlasry urged Yemeni Americans to go beyond voting – to campaign and donate for candidates from the community.
\nLuqman said Dearborn needs Yemeni American representation in public office.
\n\u201cWe need our brothers and sisters in the Lebanese, Iraqi, Palestinian, Syrian, and neighboring communities within Dearborn to embrace and support the large Yemeni population and its significant contributions to our diverse city,\u201d she said.
\nLuqman also called for a more cooperative political approach in Dearborn.
\n\u201cAs one unified Dearborn community, we need to collectively make space for adequate representation on our boards, in elected office, and with city stakeholders,\u201d she said. \u201cWe need to remain cognizant that representation is meant to reflect the population and not simply a competition for a political seat.\u201d<\/p>\n

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