April officially declared Arab American Heritage Month

(KRON) -- Gavin Newsom officially declared the month of April as Arab American Heritage Month, the governor announced yesterday. "California joins the nation in recognizing Arab American Heritage Month and lifting up the profound and wide-ranging contributions of Arab Americans in all facets of society," Newsom said. As home to more immigrants than any other state, California is also home to the largest Arab American population than any other state in the country. Michigan rates the highest by population density."Whether they've called America home for many generations or arrived more recently, Arab Americans have enriched communities across the country and made an indelible impact," Newsom said.Some of the highest rates of Arab Americans in California are found in Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Bay Area. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Lebanese-Americans make up the most dense population of Arab nationalities in the country. Syrian and Egyptian-Americans come in second and third place, respectively. East Bay police chief attacked by homeless man in Piedmont"We must also recognize the pervasive discrimination and xenophobia the Arab American community faces – with many suffering in silence and fear to speak out," Newsom said. "This is unacceptable, and our state is leading the charge to protect those under attack for who they are, how they look, or what they believe."Ways the governor and other state officials are combatting discrimination is by bolstering security in places of worship and cultural centers, making available community-based services to support victims of hate, and providing anonymous reporting options for victims and witnesses of hate crimes, Newsom said. "During Arab American Heritage Month, we honor the past, present and future of this community in our California story and rededicate ourselves to ensuring the safety and belonging of Arab Americans across our state," Newsom said.