Special Advisory: ADC Expresses Concern Over Increased Hate Crimes
Washington, DC | May 14, 2010 | www.adc.org | The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is extremely concerned by the rise in incidents of hate crimes and vandalism that have occurred within the past week. In one week alone, our Nation has witnessed multiple hateful activities which have disrupted the safety of the Arab-American and Muslim-American communities.
Each month, the ADC Legal Department is notified of numerous hate crimes. In the past few days, ADC has seen an increase in violent acts against Arab and Muslim Americans, which are a grave concern. Four of the more serious cases, outlined below, involve acts of domestic terrorism, vandalism, intimidation, and discriminatory campaign tactics.
- Earlier this week, an explosive device ignited right outside the Islamic Center of Northeast Florida, Jacksonville, FL, during the Isha/evening prayers. Sixty worshippers were inside the mosque at the time of the incident. The FBI is investigating this mosque incident as a possible act of domestic terrorism.
- ADC received numerous complaints about the hateful campaign by Florida Republican congressional candidate, Dan Fanelli. ADC has written to Mr. Fanelli and is requesting that his campaign not engage in hateful messaging and fear mongering. ADC's action on the matter can be read by clicking here
- An art exhibit by a Muslim graduate student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) was defaced and vandalized. In addition, large caricatures and a bubble with the words "Kill all Arabs" were highlighted on the exhibited artwork. Ironically, the exhibit was addressing the very rise of violence and hate directed at Muslims in the post 9/11 climate.
- An 18 year-old male was brutally beaten by officers from an Illinois Police Station in retaliation for his mother's attempt to file a complaint against the way her son had been treated. The mother is a Muslim-American woman and wears the Hijab, the traditional Muslim headwear. During the beating, one of the officers yelled at the young man that this was all because of his "Muslim bitch" mother. ADC has been in contact with the Department of Justice and is working with the family to pursue legal remedies.
ADC President, Sara Najjar-Wilson, stated that "Such acts cannot be tolerated in a civil society, and must not be condoned in a country of just laws, such as our America. All communities across our Country, irrespective of their ethnic or religious affiliation, must protest such detestable actions. The perpetrators should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law."
ADC Legal Director, Abed Ayoub, expressed that "Such actions against the community are unconscionable and it is our hope that the appropriate authorities will treat these matters as hate crimes. Our attorneys will continue to monitor these alarming state of affairs, and work with the victims to ensure these bigoted matters are appropriately addressed."
If you are a victim of a hate crime, or you have been discriminated against, please contact the ADC Legal Department for assistance by calling 202-244-2990 or via e-mail to legal@adc.org.
###
Contact: legal@adc.org
202-244-2990
NOTE TO EDITORS: The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), which is non-profit, non-sectarian and non-partisan, is the largest Arab-American civil rights organization in the United States. It was founded in 1980 by former Senator James Abourezk to protect the civil rights of people of Arab descent in the United States and to promote the cultural heritage of the Arabs. ADC has 38 chapters nationwide, including chapters in every major city in the country, and members in all 50 states.
The ADC Research Institute (ADC-RI), which was founded in 1981, is a Section 501(c)(3) educational organization that sponsors a wide range of programs on behalf of Arab Americans and of importance to all Americans. ADC-RI programs include research studies, seminars, conferences and publications that document and analyze the discrimination faced by Arab Americans in the workplace, schools, media, and governmental agencies and institutions. ADC-RI also celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the Arabs.
