Lake County Gazette

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has vowed to sign a bill into law that allows individuals to select Arab American as an ethnic option on registration forms on May 19th.

"My office made this change years ago, and I look forward to signing this bill into law to ensure a more equitable Illinois,” he said.

Arab America wrote the Chicago area has one of the largest Palestinian communities in the United States, noting the U.S. Census Bureau reported the Illinois Arab American population tripled since 1980. It added there are approximately three million Arab Americans in the U.S.

"This is a point where we want to be at,” Irshad Khan with the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago said to ABC 7. “We want to be counted. We want to be represented.”

The bill is sponsored by State Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid, the first Palestinian American elected to the state legislature earlier this year to represent the 21st District.

Arab News reported Representative Cyril Nichols also gave efforts in giving the Illinois Arab community recognition. Nicholas sought to add Arab-owned businesses as a recognized minority so they can receive more contracts.

“So, I was approached and they said is it possible that you can look at making sure we get the minority status,” he said to Arab News. “I said yes, let me look at it. In Detroit Michigan, one of the largest populations of Arab Americans they have this status ... We realized they had legislation in place. We took the same legislation and I said to my staff, look at this and see if this is what we are looking at.”

Soon after the bill was introduced, Pritzker expressed his support, tweeting "My office made this change years ago, and I look forward to signing this bill into law to ensure a more equitable Illinois."

Arab America also wrote that Arab Americans began moving to the U.S. between the late 19th century and early 20th century.

Community leaders said they don't have an accurate count of the number of Arab Americans in the state, just estimates. And, they said that will change and be among the first benefits when the law takes effect.