Sunday, August 15, 2010 at 5:08PM Gilad Atzmon Abu Obeida was murdered two days ago in Houston Texas. I lost a friend. Palestine lost one of its best activists ever.
Gilad
Update:
The US Palestinian Community Network mourns Abu Obeida Omran, from the village of Burin
The Palestinian community has today lost a charismatic leader, and the children of Burin in the U.S., and all of the Palestinian community, mourn the loss of Abu Obeida. We pledge to him to continue upon the path of struggle, unity and return, and to fight for the full achievement of all of our national goals.
Today, we send greetings to the people of Burin village, to his wife, his children, his family and his comrades, in Palestine and in the diaspora. Abu Obeida Omran was born on November 13, 1967. He was 42 years old, married with two sons, Abu Obeida and Abu Ali Mustafa, and a daughter, Maryam.
Slain Palestinian remembered for his generosity
Omran was killed in robbery attempt at one of his Houston storesBy JEANNIE KEVER
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Aug. 15, 2010, 9:55PM
Abu Obeida Omran moved to the United States in 1990, later becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen.
Abu Obeida Omran was internationally known for his work to create an independent Palestinian state, but the immigrant was equally interested in helping his neighbors in his adopted hometown of Houston.
"He always told me he wanted to find a way to give back to the community," said Massoud Nayeri, a long-time friend who had joined Omran in a campaign to provide school supplies for local children.
Police said Omran, whom they identified as Abo Obyb Abdel-Salaam but was widely known as Abu Obeida, died late Friday when he was run over during an attempted robbery at a convenience store he recently opened in southwest Houston. He was 42.
Curtis Odette Robinson was attempting to shoplift from the store when Omran confronted him and escorted him out, said HPD spokeswoman Jodi Silva. The men — joined by alleged getaway driver Albert Lee Hall - began to fight, she said. At some point, Robinson got in the car and hit Omran, Silva added, running over him with both the front and rear tires.
Robinson has been charged with murder. Hall is charged with assault.
A proud citizen
Omran moved to the United States in 1990, later becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen.
Over the years, he helped dozens of Palestinian refugees establish themselves after they arrived here, even as he built his own businesses.
"He went through the struggles of a typical American," said another friend, Mohammed Salhoot. "He went from a parking lot attendant to a gas station attendant. ... He struggled, like any other immigrant, until he succeeded and made his way through."
Omran owned several businesses and had opened the Chevron station where he was fatally attacked just two months ago. Friends said the new store was named Farouk Chevron, in recognition of former gubernatorial candidate Farouk Shami, and featured an appearance at the grand opening in June by Miss USA, Rima Fakih, the first Arab-American to win the title.
Omran and Salhoot had recently formed a development company, JWM Development, through which they hoped to create business opportunities for other Palestinian immigrants.
Salhoot said the company was named for Omran's sons, Abu Obeida, whom Omran jokingly called "John Wayne," and Abu Ali Mustafa.
"He was such a proud Palestinian-American," Salhoot said to explain Omran's likening his older son to the quintessential American actor.
But he never forgot his roots.
Raised $150,000 for Gaza
Omran was a leader in the movement to allow Palestinians to return to their homeland, a subject of ongoing dispute with Israel.
He formed the Houston chapter of Al-Awda, a national group that supports the creation of an independent Palestinian state, and helped organize a convoy to Gaza in 2009, delivering supplies to Palestinian families. He raised about $150,000 for that effort, Salhoot said.
He also took on causes closer to his new home, supporting efforts to preserve and revitalize the neighborhoods surrounding his stores.
Gave to other causes, too
Ester King, a volunteer for the Black Heritage Society, said he met Omran more than a year ago as the society reached out to foreign-born owners of stores in African-American neighborhoods.
Omran donated money to preserve African-American memorabilia, one of the society's projects, King said.
"Sometimes business people are so focused on their own bottom lines that they don't leave a lot of room for social justice," King said. "That was not him."
Salhoot said Omran never spoke of fear about working at the stores he owned.
"I always advised him to watch out, to be careful," said Salhoot, who formerly owned a string of check-cashing stores. "I told him not to carry money in and out of the stores, to hire an armored carrier. Eventually, he probably would have, but when you are a small owner-operator, you do everything."
He said he hoped local political leaders would acknowledge Omran's stature as a community leader by attending the prayer services, set for 9 a.m. today at Masjid Hamza, a mosque at 6233 Tres Lagunas Drive, near Highway 6 and the Westpark Tollway. Burial will follow.
In addition to his sons, Omran is survived by his wife and one daughter, Maryam.
1 comment:
I too knew Abu Obeida. You know, a person's true character is how they behave when no one is looking. From the sidelines, I watched this man help people whom no one else would help. I also saw him help people whom he didn't even know. He did these things out of sheer good will, not for any recognition or for anything he would gain for himself. I know that his passing must be accepted as God's will, but I still hope that we see justice on Earth for this senseless crime. I am already troubled by the appearance of a witness who has stepped forth in defense of the killer stating that "It looked accidental." This is nonsense. Millions of people get angry everyday, but they don't climb into their cars and run over people. America is lucky to have immigrants like Abu Obeida come here, and meanwhile the Curtis Robinsons of the America are destroying the country. I know that Divine justice will prevail here; I just hope we see it here in this life as well. May God bless Abu and his family
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