A man threw a brick at a Michigan campaign office Thursday and then proceeded to say he did it because the candidate is a “f****** Arab.”
Democrat Abbas Alawieh, who’s running for a Dearborn-based seat in the Michigan state Senate, detailed the incident in a press release. Alawieh confronted the individual who allegedly targeted his Dearborn Heights office and recorded the conversation he had with the man.
“What’s the issue?” Alawieh asked the man at one point.
“You’re a f****** Arab,” the man who wasn’t identified in the press release or video said. “F*** you.”
In a statement, Alawieh said he and his team were meeting Thursday morning when they heard a loud bang against the wall of their office building. When Alawieh went outside to see what had happened, he saw a man trying to force open a locked door to the office.
“I asked what his issue was, and he immediately began hurling hateful, anti-Arab and Islamophobic insults at me,” Alawieh said.
The man had thrown a brick at a painting that included Alawieh’s name on the side of the building, the statement said.
Alawieh said he wants to ensure “every person, no matter their background, faith or name, feels safe, respected and fully at home.”
“I know Dearborn Heights and all of Senate District 2 as a welcoming community, and I am running a campaign on the issues that unite us, and to reject all forms of hate that divide us,” Alawieh said.
Alawieh reported the incident to Dearborn Heights law enforcement.
Michael Guzowski, the city’s chief of police, said his department is investigating a reported destruction of property incident at an office building on Van Born Road.
“This is an active investigation, and we are reviewing all available evidence to determine what occurred,” Guzowski said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Dearborn Heights Police Department at 313-277-6770.
cmauger@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Man curses Arab candidate after allegedly tossing brick at office
Reporting by Craig Mauger, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
