On Oct. 8, 2023, my annual visit with my college friends in Arizona was interrupted by a phone call from Gov. Josh Shapiro. He called to check up on me as well as to ask how our community was in light of the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, and the subsequent Israeli counter operation in Gaza. He wanted our community, the Arab American community in Pennsylvania, to feel safe and protected.

Gov. Shapiro has always been with the Muslim and Arab community in the face of Islamophobia, anti-Arab racism, and discrimination. When he took office, he appointed the highest ranking Muslim to ever serve on a cabinet seat in Pennsylvania. He proclaimed April as Arab American Heritage Month. He visited Arab American mosques and churches. He spoke at an Eid-al-Fitr prayer.
Josh Shapiro is a friend and advocate for our community and I am convinced will use his current position as governor and any other position that he may be selected for, in the near future or further on, to remain engaged with our community throughout our commonwealth or in our beloved Middle East.