Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on local and regional news you won't find anywhere else

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Archive 2004-2013
  • Toggle search form
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings addressing the Orland Township Democratic Organization Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022
    Hastings announces $75,000 grant for Olympia Fields Bicentennial Park renovations Illinois Legislature
  • Alleged Member of Chicago Street Gang Charged With Soliciting the Murder of Senior Law Enforcement Official Involved in “Operation Midway Blitz” Crime
  • IIEC Logo
    The Energy Omnibus Bill will increase rates over the rest of this decade as Illinois families and businesses toil under higher utility costs Business
  • Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Polish hero of the American Revolution. After arriving in America in 1776, Kosciuszko joined the Continental Army. As a skilled engineer, he made significant contributions to the war by designing fortifications for several strategic places such as Philadelphia, West Point, and Saratoga. Kosciuszko later returned to Poland to lead his native military in a 1794 uprising. In Detroit, Courtesy of WIkipedia
    Cook County Treasurer Pappas showcases Polish photographer’s first-ever American exhibit and honors Polish American Heritage Month in Chicago Cook County
  • On Saturday, October 4th, Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar hosted the Fifth Annual 16th District Dia de los Muertos Resource Fair at his district office. Partnering with Commissioner Aguilar were the Village of Lyons, Lyons School District 103, Teamsters Local 777, and Rincon Family Services.
    Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar Hosts Fifth Annual Dia de los Muertos Family Resource Fair  Cook County
  • Jesse Jackson Jr July 2025
    Jesse Jackson Jr. Launches Candidacy for Congress Civil Rights
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas to Celebrate Diwali by Recognizing Indian Community Leaders Cook County
  • Andrew Boutros US Attorney Illinois
    Statement of US Attorney Andrew S. Boutros and Federal Law Enforcement Leadership in Chicago on Ongoing Criminal Immigration Enforcement Operations Chicago
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    The 5 Most Common Mistakes Homeowners Make with Property Taxes Cook County
  • Road construction cement truck. Photo courtesy of Ray Hanania
    Hastings: $123 million in IDOT projects will improve South Suburban roads through collaboration with local leaders construction
  • Source: Electric Power Monthly - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
    Ratepayers will lose in the rush to approve battery storage electricity legislation in Springfield Business
  • Joyful reunion photo courtesy of Jeffery M. Leving & Assc law firm
    Leving Team Prevented a Father’s Wrongful Separation from His Child Dads' Rights
  • CTF Illinois Orland Park, 18230 Orland Pkwy, Orland Park, IL 60467
    Hastings, Giannoulias announce opening of temporary driver services facility in Orland Park Baby Boomers
  • Emagine Theater Pink popcorn
    Popcorn with a purpose: Emagine Theatres brings back Pink Caramel Corn to support Pink Fund during Breast Cancer Awareness Month Business
  • Chicago Wovles play the Rockford Ice Hogs, Feb. 23, 2025
    Chicago Wolves announce 2025-2026 Training Camp Roster Entertainment
Palos Township Trustee Sharon Brannigan

Protests against “racism” must be effective and civil

Posted on December 18, 2018March 30, 2022 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Protests against “racism” must be effective and civil
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

Protests against “racism” must be effective and civil

Protestors have been disrupting meetings of the Palos Township board for nearly 18 months as a part of a political strategy devised by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle to undermine her anti-tax critics led by County Commissioner Sean Morrison. They are targeting Sharon Brannigan out of hatred. But if the Nov. 6 elections proved anything, it is that the protestors are little more than a small group of irrelevant bullies.

By Ray Hanania

For more than one year, a group of activists have organized monthly protests against Sharon Brannigan, a Trustee on the Palos Township Board who made insensitive comments about Middle Eastern people on her social media page.

On her Facebook Page, Brannigan questioned why schools in the Palos region were “filling with Middle East students” and asserted many Muslims don’t integrate into local society.

When her comments were challenged, Brannigan issued a lengthy apology explaining she was addressing the issue of immigration and had let her emotions take control of her feelings. She explained she respects and admires Muslims and Arab Americans, but the protestors denounced her apology – after demanding it for several months – saying it was “too little, too late.” They demanded she resign.

To make their point, many of the protestors actively joined the campaign of Abdelnasser Rashid who was challenging Cook County Commissioner Sean Morrison. Morrison is also the Palos Township Republican Commissioner and Brannigan is a part of his political organization. Rashid, a bright rising star in the American Arab community, only lost the election by only 1,377 votes in the county or more than 120,000 cast. But, the analysis of the votes in the Townships in the Southwest Suburban Townships like Orland, Lemont, Worth, Lyons (which includes the Bridgeview Mosque) and Palos showed that Morrison, despite the attacks, beat Rashid by more than 10,000 votes.

Palos Township Trustee Sharon Brannigan
Palos Township Trustee Sharon Brannigan

The Morrison-Rashid election should make us wonder about the conduct of the protestors. I think the protestors’ conduct negatively impacted Rashid and also the way many non-Arabs and non-Muslims look at our community. Rashid should have won but he was dragged down by some extremists

 

Here are some facts:

The protestors do not represent “the community” as they claim. They definitely have the right to protest and express their views. I’m not sure if anyone really represents “the community.”

 

My concern is the way they protest. At many of the meetings, videotaped by the protestors themselves, the protestors scream, yell, and obstruct the board meetings. They called Brannigan names attacking her personally. At last week’s meeting, the protestors continued with their vocal attacks disrupting the meeting and went outside surrounding Brannigan’s car as she tried to leave the meeting. They pounded on her vehicle, calling her names and screamed. Brannigan called 911 and Palos Heights Police had to come push the protestors back so Brannigan, and other attendees, could safely leave the parking lot.

The most recent meeting was a circus and the protestors are the clowns.

The protestors have also criticized me, which is fine. As an opinion columnist, I know people don’t always agree with me. That’s called tolerance, and tolerance is something some in our community need more of.

I also don’t object to the opinions of some of the protestors. They don’t have to accept Brannigan’s apology – although I do and I know many other Arabs and Muslims have accepted her apology. I prefer a politician who makes a mistake and apologizes, recognizing the mistake, than a politician who smiles at us, pretends to be our friend and backstabs us quietly in the shadows.

But I do object to the way the protestors conduct themselves. Yelling, Screaming. Calling people names. Obstructing the board meetings. Blocking cars after the meeting. That is intolerable conduct that not only fails as a strategy, but also makes the entire Arab and Muslim community look bad. Americans see them and their conduct reinforces the racist stereotypes many in the public have about us.

Emotion is not an asset in our community. Yelling and screaming is not an effective strategy. Education is. I think the negative images of the protestors carried over and undermined Rashid, who openly identified with them. And, it also undermines the protestors who have failed to rally the larger Arab and Muslim community.

Their conduct is shameful and makes it worse for our Arab and Muslim community.

During the past 18 months, these self-serving protestors with their own selfish agenda have tried but failed to win community support. In fact, it has made many people in the community look at the Arab and Muslim community in a very negative manner. The protestors are putting forth the worst face of our community, the ugliest image, and the most despicable nature. Voters in the Nov. 6, 2018 elections proved that when they soundly voted to support Sean Morrison over Abdelnasser Rashid, who tried but failed to use the protest as a campaign advantage. The protests are not an advantage at all. In fact, they harm the Arab and Muslim community.

An analysis of the election proves that the protestors ands their extremist selfish agenda is in fact harming the Arab and Muslim community in Cook County. Just look at the results:

DATA

Rashid lost to Morrison by 1,377 votes out of 120,000 total votes cast … but he really lost big in the Southwest suburbs of Orland, Palos, Worth, Lyons, Lemont. He won big in the north suburbs where voters there were unaware of what the protestors were doing in Palos Township in the far south end of the long district.

TOWNSHIP RESULTS

Northern Townships:

Elk Grove Village Rashid won by 275 votes
Leyden Rashid won by 353 votes
Main Rashid won by 2,465 votes
Proviso Rashid won by 4,006 votes
Riverside Rashid won by 983 votes

Southern Townships

Lemont Morrison won by 1,739 votes
Lyons Morrison won by 1,496 votes
Orland Morrison won by 3,611
Palos Morrison won by 2,064
Worth Morrison won by 816

Bremen Rashid won by 5 votes

In the 5 North Suburban Townships, Rashid won by 8,082 votes
In the 5 South Suburban Townships, Morrison won by 9,721 votes

What the Arab community needs is to throw out the trash and replace it with a reasoned voice of commonsense and compassion. Arab Christians and Muslims are very compassionate people. It is is the foundation of our culture to accept apologies and find ways to work with people with whom we disagree.

Forgiveness is a core Arab and Muslim belief, not intolerance, extremism and hate. Screaming, yelling, and obstructing public meetings is not a part of our culture. All it does is reinforce the stereotypes against us. It weakens the ability of our community to succeed and overcome the real  haters and racists  out there who do not apologize and who engage in anti-Arab and anti-Muslim rhetoric all the time in the shadows and behind-the-scenes.

(Ray Hanania is an award winning former Chicago City Hall reporter who has covered Chicago politics for more than 40 years. Visit his website at TheDailyHookah.com or email him at [email protected].)

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania
Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.  

His award winning columns can be found at www.HANANIA.COM Subscribe FREE today

Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily News criticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

Email Ray Hanania at [email protected].

Follow RayHanania at Twitter
Ray Hanania
Latest posts by Ray Hanania (see all)
  • Hastings announces $75,000 grant for Olympia Fields Bicentennial Park renovations - October 8, 2025
  • Alleged Member of Chicago Street Gang Charged With Soliciting the Murder of Senior Law Enforcement Official Involved in “Operation Midway Blitz” - October 8, 2025
  • The Energy Omnibus Bill will increase rates over the rest of this decade as Illinois families and businesses toil under higher utility costs - October 8, 2025
NPV: 26
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, elections, Features, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, Racism, rayhanania, Religion, Suburban Chicagoland Tags:Abdelnasser Rashid, Arabs, bullying, disruption, failure, intolerance, Muslims, Palos Township, protestors, screaming, Sean Morrison, Sharon Brannigan, Toni Preckwinkle, yelling

Post navigation

Previous Post: Tollway launches Construction Works program in Northern Illinois
Next Post: Desperate news media turns to scams to profit

Related Posts

  • La Grange’s Virtual Pet Parade Cook County
  • J.B. Pritzker receives endorsement from UFCW. Pritzker's Facebook Page
    Pritzker joins Federal, State and Local Leaders to break ground on next phase of Springfield Rail Business
  • Chicago Fire FC will continue its 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup campaign against St. Louis CITY SC in the Round of 32 at 7 p.m. CT on Tuesday, May 9 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.
    Chicago Fire FC to Face St. Louis CITY SC in 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 at SeatGeek Stadium Chicago
  • Brandon Johnson leads a protest demanding to defund the Police. Photo courtesy of the Vallas for Mayor Campaign
    Brandon Johnson owes thousands in unpaid bills Chicago
  • San Francisco district attorney Chesa Boudin. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia
    Right from the Middle: Continuation of the beginning of the end Bill Lipinski
  • Rouhy Shalabi sworn in as an Associate Judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County on Monday Jan. 6, 2020. Photo courtesy of Dave Shalabi.
    Rouhy Shalabi named Associate Judge in Cook County Chicago

More Related Articles

Ray Hanania Who was Chicago’s Best Mayor? Blogger
Landlords’ beef with Summit News
Jordan Michalak MugShot 23-year-old Berwyn man charged in DUI related deaths Oct. 9 breaking news
$17 million invested in Sauk Village announced Business
money $20 dollar bill, dollars, cash Pappas: Areas high in delinquent property taxes lose residents, pay larger tax increases and have the most violent crime Cook County
N95 Hospital quality coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic face mask. Coronavirus has changed our lives forever Blogger

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Video Podcast: Trump Kimmel Kirk Great American Divide Illegal Aliens polling and Illegal Aliens and ICE
    September 20, 2025
  • Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch speaking at a West Side affordable housing dedication
    Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, one of the best candidates to become Illinois Governor
    September 7, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    What You’re Missing on Your Property Tax Bill
    September 5, 2025
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Children of divorce caught in the middle during the holidays
    August 27, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    We Can Help You Understand Your Property Taxes—In Nearly Any Language
    August 8, 2025
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio

  • NEWS
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings addressing the Orland Township Democratic Organization Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022
    Hastings announces $75,000 grant for Olympia Fields Bicentennial Park renovations
    October 8, 2025
  • Alleged Member of Chicago Street Gang Charged With Soliciting the Murder of Senior Law Enforcement Official Involved in “Operation Midway Blitz”
    October 8, 2025
  • IIEC Logo
    The Energy Omnibus Bill will increase rates over the rest of this decade as Illinois families and businesses toil under higher utility costs
    October 8, 2025
  • Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Polish hero of the American Revolution. After arriving in America in 1776, Kosciuszko joined the Continental Army. As a skilled engineer, he made significant contributions to the war by designing fortifications for several strategic places such as Philadelphia, West Point, and Saratoga. Kosciuszko later returned to Poland to lead his native military in a 1794 uprising. In Detroit, Courtesy of WIkipedia
    Cook County Treasurer Pappas showcases Polish photographer’s first-ever American exhibit and honors Polish American Heritage Month in Chicago
    October 8, 2025
  • On Saturday, October 4th, Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar hosted the Fifth Annual 16th District Dia de los Muertos Resource Fair at his district office. Partnering with Commissioner Aguilar were the Village of Lyons, Lyons School District 103, Teamsters Local 777, and Rincon Family Services.
    Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar Hosts Fifth Annual Dia de los Muertos Family Resource Fair 
    October 8, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme