ADC is continuing to focus all its energy on dealing with aftermath of the terrible tragedy that resulted from Tuesday’s attacks in New York and Washington DC. Arab Americans, like all Americans, share the national grief and stand committed to helping our country pull through this nightmare. ADC encourages Arab Americans to participate in relief efforts to help rebuild the shattered lives of the victims of this terrible crime. Among many other measures, ADC has established a world-wide Arab and Arab-American fund drive to assist the victims of the attacks, and we urge all our members and supporters to give as generously as possible.

ADC President Ziad Asali has met with senior officials of the State and Justice departments in the past two days and represented ADC at an extraordinary gathering of South Asian, Arab American, Asian Pacific American, Muslim, and Sikh national and community leaders at the National Japanese American Memorial in Washington to express their outrage and grief over the attacks against our nation last week and to call law enforcement, the media and community leader to join together to challenge the rise of hate violence perpetrated against religious and ethnic minorities. Dr. Asali has also recently met with Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and other senior congressional leaders.

While we remain mindful and vigilant of the civil rights of all Americans, ADC firmly believes that every effort should be made to assist investigators. ADC has received reports that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and other law enforcement agencies are currently contacting and interviewing individuals in our community as part of the investigations being carried out nationwide. ADC is already working on a number of cases which could raise civil rights issues and is committed to preserving civil rights during this crisis. While stressing the need to cooperate with the authorities in investigations of these crimes, ADC would like to inform the Arab-American of the community legal and constitutional rights and protections that continue to be guaranteed even during times of crisis.

If the FBI contacts or talks to you: 1. You should inform them that you are willing to cooperate, but may wish to request the presence of an attorney. 2. You have the right to have an attorney present with you at all times during an interview, whether or not an arrest is being made. This right cannot be denied. The Fifth Amendment of the Constitution provides that every person has the right to remain silent in the face of questions posed by any police officer or government agent. ADC strongly urges anyone who has relevant information to share it immediately with the authorities.

ADC is available to give legal advice and guidance to all those with questions about their legal rights or other questions arising during this time of crisis. The National Lawyers Guild has issued a useful guide to legal rights which can be read at ADC.org at <http://www.adc.org/legal/legalupdates/2001/Sept/19.htm>.

ADC is continuing to compile information on hate crimes, discrimination and civil rights violations in the aftermath of the attacks, and urges all Arab Americans to exercise caution, use their common sense, be aware of and alert to those around them and report any suspicious threats of harassment, discrimination and hate crimes to the police and ADC.

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WAS ISSUED TODAY BY THE EEOC:

EEOC Chair Urges Workplace Tolerance in Wake of Terrorist Attacks

Washington--In the wake of this week's tragic events, Cari M. Dominguez, Chair of the US Equal Opportunity Commission (EEOC), called on all employers and employees across the country to promote tolerance and guard against unlawful workplace discrimination based on national origin or religion.

"We should not allow our anger at the terrorists responsible for this week's heinous attacks to be misdirected against innocent individuals because of their religion, ethnicity, or country of origin, " Chair Dominguez said. "In the midst of this tragedy, employers should take time to be alert to instances of harassment or intimidation against Arab-American and Muslim employees. Preventing and prohibiting injustices against our fellow workers is one way to fight back, if only symbolically, against the evil forces that assaulted our workplaces on Tuesday morning."

EEOC encourages employers to do the following

Reiterate policies against harassment based on religion, ethnicity, and national origin; Communicate procedures for addressing workplace discrimination and harassment; Urge employees to report any such improper conduct; and Provide training and counseling, as appropriate.

Ms. Dominguez exhorted all individuals to heeds the words of President Bush, who said "We must be mindful that as we seek to win the war [against terrorism] we treat Arab Americans and Muslims with the respect they deserve."

EEOC enforces Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, and retaliation for filing a complaint. For example, Title VII precludes workplace bias based on the following:

Religion, ethnicity, birthplace, culture, or linguistic characteristics;

Marriage or association with persons of a national origin or religious group; Membership or association with specific ethnic or religious groups; Physical, linguistic or cultural traits closely associated with a national origin group, for example, discrimination because of a person's physical features or traditional Arab style of dress; and Perception or belief that a person is a member of a particular national origin group, based on the person's speech, mannerisms, or appearance.

"Our laws reaffirm our national values of tolerance and civilized conduct. At this time of trial, these values will strengthen us as a common people," Ms. Domiguez said. "The nation's workplaces are fortified by the enduring ability of Americans of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and nationalities to work together harmoniously and productively."

In addition to enforcing Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, EEOC enforces the Equal Pay Act; prohibitions against discrimination affecting individuals with disabilities in the federal sector; sections of the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in the private sector, state and local governments; and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Further information about the commission is available on its website at www.eeoc.gov.

EEOC
1801 L. Street NW
Suite 10006, 10th Floor
Washington, DC 20507