Friday, August 12th, 2005...9:07 am
Dawud Isa Abusida
Late Wednesday night, three people were killed out on Ajo and Kinney roads here in Tucson. A sheriff’s deputy named Timothy Graham was attempting to apprehend a mentally ill man named Aaron Swyers. A struggle ensued, and a cabbie that had just happened by named Dawud Abusida and attempted to help.
Traffic along that stretch can be fast moving; freeway speeds are the norm. Somehow, all three men ended up in the path of an oncomming truck. All three died.
What is interesting for me is with all of the people that must have driven by the scene, only one wanted to help the deputy, an Arab immigrant, a Palestinian at that. Heck, this “Good Samaritian” may have actually been from Samaria.
Abusida had a master’s degree, and recently became reconnected with his faith. He came over here with his family to make a better life. He had even recently started his own business.
With all of the paranoia these days being directed at immigrants, and immigrants from that region in particular, I hope this serves as an example of the sacrifices many immigrants make to better their lives, as well as the lives of their fellow Americans.
The Sheriff’s department, even while dealing with their own tragic loss, is working on getting a posthumous citation for Abusida.
Salam alaikum.
UPDATE: The Star ran an article about a service for Abusida this morning.
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