MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.: At an event here August 27 to mark the 10-year anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, harrowing stories were related of bullying in schools, workplace harassment, hate crimes based on religious affiliations and persecution by law enforcement agencies due to wearing faith-based hair coverings.
The three-hour hearing, "Unheard Voices of 9/11," dramatically presented the decade-long impact after 9/11 on Arab, Muslim and Sikh American communities.
"Most of the bullying that I faced happened in middle school," said Sarah O'Neal, a young hijab-wearing Muslim at the first panel on school bullying.
"I was called a 'towel head' and some students asked me if I had relatives in al-Qaeda." Currently a junior at Wilcox High School in Santa Clara, Calif., she added, "I felt marginalized, upset and unaccepted. I don't want other kids to experience what I experienced in school because of my religion and because I wear a hijab."
Navneet Singh, 16, of Redwood City, Calif., said, "I have felt isolated from elementary school onwards. In the fourth grade, I got punched in my face by a high school (student). I have been asked if I am related to any terrorist. I feel like I have to walk around with my guard up all the time."
Speakers at the program, organized by state Assemblyman Paul Fong, D-Cupertino, Calif., the Sikh Coalition and the Council on American Islamic Relations, besides voicing their experiences, emphasized the need for policies and ideas to combat bigotry.
"The acts of discrimination, including violence and vandalism of property, harassment and bullying, are likely to increase in the next year, not only because of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, but also because of the upcoming presidential elections," said Islamic Networks Group chief executive Maha El Genaidi.
Cultural sensitivity by law enforcement personnel to recognize both subtle and overt forms of bullying and harassment was emphasized as a necessary step in being both proactive and reactive in dealing with discrimination.
The experts presented alarming statistics on bias crimes against Muslim and Sikh youth to demonstrate the need for effective implementation of "stop bullying" programs.
"It is important to draft policies to restore confidence and trust in our communities both via law enforcement and administration," said Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada, D-Davis, Calif.
"Racism is relentless and the attempts to combat racism also have to be relentless," opined William Wong, a member of the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs.
"Racism will not go away but situations can and will get better with dedicated efforts," he added.
"Not only punishment for perpetuators of bullying and hate crimes but discussion, community service and access to physiological counseling are important," chimed in Veena Dubal of the Asian Law Caucus in a panel discussion on hate crimes.
"Fear of law enforcement is one reason why people do not report hate crimes," the Indian American attorney said. "It is imperative for agencies to create trust for all people irrespective of their religious backgrounds."
"It is critical to track the ethnic identity of the victims of hate crimes for proper resolution," added Amardeep Singh, co-founder of the Sikh Coalition.
"It is absurd and ridiculous that (turban-wearing) Sikhs cannot serve in the police department in the South Bay, as is possible in the cities of London, Toronto and Vancouver," said Rajdeep Singh, director of law and policy at the Sikh Coalition. "It is imperative for policy makers to help pass policies for inclusion of people of diversity in law enforcement agencies."
Harsimran Kaur, legal director of the Sikh Coalition, suggested the media be more responsible in not inflaming public sentiment by abstaining from using terms like "Islamic fundamentalism."
"It seems like we are still living in the shadows of 9/11," said Wajahat Ali of the Center for American Progress. He quoted the center's new study, "Fear, Inc.: The Roots of Islamophobia in America," that reports a growing "Islam-bashing" network in the U.S., with considerable reach to the news media and such well-known politicians as Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann.
The report claims over $42 million have been paid by seven foundations to the Islam-bashing network in the past decade.
Others attending the program included Congressman Mike Honda, San Jose Councilman Ash Kalra, San Jose Police Chief Chris Moore and representatives from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Source: India-West
The three-hour hearing, "Unheard Voices of 9/11," dramatically presented the decade-long impact after 9/11 on Arab, Muslim and Sikh American communities.
"Most of the bullying that I faced happened in middle school," said Sarah O'Neal, a young hijab-wearing Muslim at the first panel on school bullying.
"I was called a 'towel head' and some students asked me if I had relatives in al-Qaeda." Currently a junior at Wilcox High School in Santa Clara, Calif., she added, "I felt marginalized, upset and unaccepted. I don't want other kids to experience what I experienced in school because of my religion and because I wear a hijab."
Navneet Singh, 16, of Redwood City, Calif., said, "I have felt isolated from elementary school onwards. In the fourth grade, I got punched in my face by a high school (student). I have been asked if I am related to any terrorist. I feel like I have to walk around with my guard up all the time."
Speakers at the program, organized by state Assemblyman Paul Fong, D-Cupertino, Calif., the Sikh Coalition and the Council on American Islamic Relations, besides voicing their experiences, emphasized the need for policies and ideas to combat bigotry.
"The acts of discrimination, including violence and vandalism of property, harassment and bullying, are likely to increase in the next year, not only because of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, but also because of the upcoming presidential elections," said Islamic Networks Group chief executive Maha El Genaidi.
Cultural sensitivity by law enforcement personnel to recognize both subtle and overt forms of bullying and harassment was emphasized as a necessary step in being both proactive and reactive in dealing with discrimination.
The experts presented alarming statistics on bias crimes against Muslim and Sikh youth to demonstrate the need for effective implementation of "stop bullying" programs.
"It is important to draft policies to restore confidence and trust in our communities both via law enforcement and administration," said Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada, D-Davis, Calif.
"Racism is relentless and the attempts to combat racism also have to be relentless," opined William Wong, a member of the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs.
"Racism will not go away but situations can and will get better with dedicated efforts," he added.
"Not only punishment for perpetuators of bullying and hate crimes but discussion, community service and access to physiological counseling are important," chimed in Veena Dubal of the Asian Law Caucus in a panel discussion on hate crimes.
"Fear of law enforcement is one reason why people do not report hate crimes," the Indian American attorney said. "It is imperative for agencies to create trust for all people irrespective of their religious backgrounds."
"It is critical to track the ethnic identity of the victims of hate crimes for proper resolution," added Amardeep Singh, co-founder of the Sikh Coalition.
"It is absurd and ridiculous that (turban-wearing) Sikhs cannot serve in the police department in the South Bay, as is possible in the cities of London, Toronto and Vancouver," said Rajdeep Singh, director of law and policy at the Sikh Coalition. "It is imperative for policy makers to help pass policies for inclusion of people of diversity in law enforcement agencies."
Harsimran Kaur, legal director of the Sikh Coalition, suggested the media be more responsible in not inflaming public sentiment by abstaining from using terms like "Islamic fundamentalism."
"It seems like we are still living in the shadows of 9/11," said Wajahat Ali of the Center for American Progress. He quoted the center's new study, "Fear, Inc.: The Roots of Islamophobia in America," that reports a growing "Islam-bashing" network in the U.S., with considerable reach to the news media and such well-known politicians as Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann.
The report claims over $42 million have been paid by seven foundations to the Islam-bashing network in the past decade.
Others attending the program included Congressman Mike Honda, San Jose Councilman Ash Kalra, San Jose Police Chief Chris Moore and representatives from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Source: India-West
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