Islam

Editorials Regarding the Backlash, Scapegoating: Immediate Responses (Sept 13-16)

September 14, 2001

Source: Newday

On September 14, 2001, Newsday published an editorial entitled, "We Muslims Also Grieve." It said, in part: "The horror is unspeakable. Like every American, I am paralyzed by the carnage on the news, on our streets. My head pounds thinking of the grief engulfing thousands of families whose loved ones were killed or injured Tuesday. When I close my eyes, I see bodies tumbling from the windows of skyscrapers. Like every American, I am outraged. And I want justice. But perhaps unlike many other Americans, I'm feeling something else, too. A...

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Religious Communities and Advocacy Organizations Issue Statements Regarding Backlash, Scapegoating

September 14, 2001

Source: ACLU

http://www.aclu.org/news/2001/n091401a.html

On September 14, 2001, The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) issued a statement "urging tolerance and respect for everyone in America in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington and urged police officials across the country to respond quickly to reports of violence or threats against all people. 'We are deeply disturbed about the increasing reports of violence and threats against Muslims, Arab...

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U.S. Elected Officials and Government Agencies Make Satements in Response to Backlash

September 14, 2001

Source: Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force

http://www.sikhmediawatch.org/official_correspondence/oc20010914_responses-2.htm

On September 14, 2001, the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force issued a press release which quoted House Democratic Leader Richard A. Gephardt: "In the face of this act of terror, we must not abandon our bedrock American values of freedom and civil liberties that define our democracy. In World War II, our country made...

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Increasing Intolerance in US

September 14, 2001

Source: The New York Times

On September 14, 2001, The New York Times reported on the increasing harassment and attacks against Muslims, Sikhs, Arabs, and others. "From Texas to Chicago to Long Island, there have been reports of arson, personal attacks and the police stopping men in Middle Eastern-style head coverings. The incidents are increasing despite many interfaith prayer services and calls from President Bush and other officials for the public not to single out anyone because of religion, race or ethnic origin." Across the country, reports continue to...

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Religious Communities and Advocacy Organizations Issue Statements Regarding Backlash, Scapegoating

September 14, 2001

Source: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

http://www.nccbuscc.org/comm/archives/2001/01-163.htm

On September 14, 2001, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a joint statement with U.S. Muslim leaders, which read, in part: "Catholics and Muslims meet regularly as friends and religious partners in dialogue and engage together in many community projects. We are fully committed to one another as friends, believers, and citizens of this great land. We abhor all...

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U.S. Elected Officials and Government Agencies Make Satements in Response to Backlash

September 14, 2001

Source: U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

http://www.usccr.gov/tragedy/tragcmpl.htm

On September 14, 2001, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) issued a statement announcing a telephone complaint line for "backlash" incidents related to religious or racial identity. The statement read, in part: "The United States Commission on Civil Rights has received complaints from Arab and Muslim Americans who are being targeted in the wake of Tuesday's attacks. In order to address these...

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Editorials Regarding the Backlash, Scapegoating: Immediate Responses (Sept 13-16)

September 14, 2001

Source: The Washington Post

On September 14, 2001, The Washington Post published the editorial "Adding Shame to Grief." This ediorial noted, "The rage and sorrow that have filled the country are no excuse for giving in to ugly stereotypes that label whole communities for the acts of extremists. This week many Muslims have struggled to remind their neighbors that they are Americans too, shocked and outraged by the slaughter of innocents. If anger and vengeance are allowed to drown out that message, it will only add shame to the nation's grief."

Mosques, Islamic Centers Targets of Backlash

September 13, 2001

Source: The Washington Post

On September 13, 2001, The Washington Post reported on incidents of backlash across the U.S. The article included an incident at a religious center in Sterling, Virginia: "Members of the Islamic community center in Sterling showed up extra early yesterday to get on a bus they had chartered to take them to a Red Cross center, where they planned to donate blood for victims of the attacks. They found their hallway spray-painted in thick black letters, several feet tall, spelling out: 'Die Pigs' and 'Muslims Burn Forever.'...'People...

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On the Web: Tracking Backlash

September 13, 2001

Source: MSNBC

http://www.msnbc.com/news/628515_asp.htm

On September 13, 2001, MSNBC continued their coverage of backlash against Muslims, Arab-Americans, and Sikhs. The web site offers an overview of some of the incidents, as well as local coverage of reports of an attack on Sikh Gurdwara in Sacramento and an attempted firebombing of the Islamic Society of Denton, Texas.

U.S. Elected Officials and Government Agencies Make Satements in Response to Backlash

September 13, 2001

Source: U.S. Department of Justice

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2001/September/468cr.htm

On September 13, 2001, the Department of Justice released a statement from the Assistant Attorney General Ralph F. Boyd Jr. regarding "the treatment of Arab, Muslim Americans or Americans of South Asian Descent." This statement read, in part: "As the Attorney General reminded us today, we must not descend to the level of those who perpetrated Tuesday's violence by targeting individuals for...

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Religious Communities and Advocacy Organizations Issue Statements Regarding Backlash, Scapegoating

September 13, 2001

Source: Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism

http://www.rac.org//news/091301.html

On September 13, 2001, Reform Jewish leaders expressed outrage at reports of attacks against Muslim Americans and Arab Americans. In a joint statement from the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie and Rabbi David Saperstein wrote: "At times such as these—and we pray that there will no more such times—it is especially important that...

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Multifaith, Interfaith Responses to Terrorist Attacks (September)

September 13, 2001

Source: The San Francisco Chronicle

On September 13, 2001, The San Francisco Chronicle reported on Interfaith events in the Bay Area in which people of "a wide range of traditions called for a large outdoor interfaith memorial service where residents could mourn for the victims as well as meditate on the impact of racism." The article quoted Charles Gibbs of the United Religions Initiative: "'We need to draw distinctions between people who are dedicated to violence regardless of religion and people who are dedicated to peace regardless of their religion.'"...

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In the U.S.: Muslims, Sikhs, Arabs, South Asians Face Threats, Violence - Immediate Backlash

September 13, 2001

Source: Salon.com News

http://salon.com/news/feature/2001/09/13/backlash/index.html

On September 13, 2001, Salon.com News featured the article "Anti-Arab passions sweep the U.S." This article stated, "Within hours of the destruction of the World Trade Center, the Net was flooded with hysterical anti-Arab sentiment. It did not take much longer for the attacks on the streets to begin. On Wednesday alone, the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee confirmed 30...

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Multifaith, Interfaith Responses to Terrorist Attacks (September)

September 13, 2001

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

On September 13, 2001, The Christian Science Monitor reported on the acts of goodness that have followed the terrorist attacks. "From the terror comes humanity. Thousands of New Yorkers line up to give blood. A Presbyterian church hands out cups of cold water to parched walkers stranded in the city. Medical students volunteer their services at hospitals. The largest Jewish temple in New York asks a Christian minister and a Muslim holy man to participate in Rosh Hashana, part of the Jewish High Holidays, to show that...

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U.S. Muslim Communities Condemn Terrorist Attacks, Designate "Day of Mourning"

September 13, 2001

Source: The American Muslim Council

http://www.amconline.org/cgi-bin/release/viewnews.cgi?newsid1000401100,42056,

On September 13, 2001, The American Muslim Council issued a press release declaring Friday as a "day of Mourning." A joint statement of major Muslim organizations wrote, "We condemn in the harshest terms the cowardly and senseless acts of terror perpetrated against innocent American citizens, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, in...

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