Grassroots campaign against Comerica Bank

STOP DISCRIMINATION OF ARABS AND MUSLIMS

Close Your Comerica Bank Account!


Friday, December 15, 2006, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm*
Dearborn: Schaefer and Warren


Saturday, December 16, 2006, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Dearborn: Michigan Ave. and Mercury Dr.
Canton: Michigan Ave. and Canton Center Rd.
Ann Arbor: Washtenaw and Platt Rd.

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THE ISSUE

Comerica Bank is seeking to close the account of Life for Relief and Development, a four-star fully licensed humanitarian organization registered with USAID, the humanitarian arm of the United States Government, and is in Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The decision was made after news reports of a government search of Life's headquarters in Southfield, MI. Although Life has been continuing to fully operate and carry out its humanitarian relief work across the world, Comerica has refused to withdraw their decision to close the account.

WHY THIS SHOULD CONCERN YOU

It is extremely disturbing to know that banks such as Comerica are willing to close the accounts of well-respected organizations. If such discrimination is allowed to pass, it can set a very dangerous precedent for all Arabs and Muslims living in America. Individual bank accounts of Arabs and Muslims in other states have already been closed for no apparent reason other than ethnicity or religion. This alarming trend must be addressed, and can only be done through the collective support of the community. Bank accounts of mosques, schools, Muslim and Arab individuals and businesses, are all potential targets to this discrimination.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP

To send a strong message to Comerica, a "Close Your Account" campaign has been organized. We are calling on all concerned individuals to close their Comerica accounts at certain branches at the information listed above. We also have been picketing daily outside the Comerica branch in Dearborn between Warren and Schaefer. We would like to continue to picket for an extended period of time to sustain the pressure on them. We are looking for volunteers to help with this as well. We are there every weekday from approximately 3:30 - 5:00 pm.

Anyone interested, please email Farhan Abdul Azeez at azeezfar@msu.edu.