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Pennsylvania Arab Americans Maintain Political Profile for 2005 Local, State Races

Posted on Thursday August 25, 2005

New Castle- On September 4, Arab American Institute (AAI) President James Zogby will join Arab Americans from across western Pennsylvania at Cascade Park Pavilion in New Castle for a celebration to honor their heritage and mobilize the community for upcoming local elections in 2005. The annual event is sponsored by the St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church, and will bring together the Syrian Orthodox, Muslim and Maronite communities of western Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania is home to over 160,000 Arab Americans living in 60 of the state’s 66 counties. The September event brings together western Pennsylvania’s diverse Arab American community, which includes second and third generation Arab Americans, predominantly of Lebanese and Syrian heritage, as well as newer immigrant communities hailing from Egypt, Jordan, and across the Gulf. For more on Pennsylvania’s Arab American community, visit: http://www.aaiusa.org/State/pennsylvania.htm

“The diverse religious and cultural constituencies in our community have always enjoyed a supportive relationship,” said Jack Hanna, an attorney based in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and a member of AAI’s National Policy Council. “The community is primed to channel this positive energy into proactive political involvement.”

During the 2004 campaign, the Arab American Institute conducted five tracking polls of Arab American voters in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida. The Arab American vote represents slightly more than 5% of the overall vote in Michigan, 2% in Florida, just under 2% in Ohio, and more than 1.5% of all Pennsylvania voters. For full poll results, visit: http://www.aaiusa.org/finalpoll2004.htm

“Pennsylvania’s Arab American community understands that the key to successful political empowerment is getting involved not only during state and national campaigns, but remaining active during off years and in local elections,” said AAI President James Zogby. “This is a politically sophisticated community whose votes can make a significant impact in local and state elections.”

WHO: AAI President James Zogby,
Pennsylvania Arab American leaders and community members

WHAT: Arab American community gathers together at St. Elias “Old Fashion Picnic”

WHEN: Sunday, September 4 1:30PM

WHERE: Cascade Park Pavilion, New Castle PA

Founded in 1985, the Arab American Institute (AAI) is a nonprofit organization committed to the civic and political empowerment of Americans of Arab descent. AAI provides policy, research and public affairs services to support a broad range of community activities.