Orland Park, IL - Earlier this week on February 5th, Orland Park hosted a community Town Hall event. The Town Hall was meant to provide a vital platform for healthy discourse where community members are encouraged to ask questions, voice their opinions on specific issues or policies, and engage directly with government officials. Residents of the village passionately addressed Mayor Pekau and the Orland Park Board of Trustees, urging them to adopt a resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. Their collective efforts, including the collection of 800 petition signatures, urged meaningful dialogue and aimed to address pressing concerns within the community. However, Mayor Pekau’s remarks suggested that Arab Americans who support a ceasefire in Gaza should “go to another country.”

In response to Mayor Keith Pekau’s divisive comments regarding the ongoing genocide in Gaza and his dismissive attitude toward the concerns of Orland Park residents, Mahnoor Ahmad, candidate for the 6th district, is taking a stand for inclusivity and unity in our community. Mayor Pekau’s comments not only disregard the diverse and vibrant Arab American population in Orland Park but also perpetuate harmful stereotypes and undermine the values of inclusivity and respect that our community stands for.

Mahnoor Ahmad, a candidate for the 6th district, firmly denounces Mayor Pekau’s ignorant rhetoric and emphasizes that ALL residents with concerns, including Arab Americans, are just as American as anyone else. She believes that diversity is our strength and that every member of our community deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Residents of Orland Park who expressed their concerns and engaged in their local Town Hall exhibited the beauty of America’s democratic process. We implore Mayor Keith Pekau and other leaders to sincerely contemplate why they remain indifferent to the glaringly urgent humanitarian crisis, choosing instead to demean community members participating in the democratic act of protest.

Diversity of thought, ethnicity, and creed are an integral part of the fabric of our community, and all voices deserve to be heard and respected. Ahmad stands firmly against bigotry and discrimination in all its forms and will work tirelessly to ensure that Orland Park remains a welcoming and inclusive place for all. She firmly believes that by coming together and embracing our differences, we can build a stronger, more inclusive Orland Park for generations to come.

For more information about Mahnoor Ahmad and her campaign for the 6th district, please visit https://ahmadforhouse.com/.  Follow @ahmadforhouse on Instagram and Twitter and Mahnoor Ahmad on Facebook.