Michigan US Attorney:

Dear Mr. Labib:

I just got off the telephone with Alexandria.

Margaret Chiara asked me to call given the imminent onset of military action in the Middle East.

She's asked our federal agents and prosecutors to respond quickly and effectively to any crimes motivated by hate and prejudice.  With war in the Middle East likely, we hope all members of our neighborhoods and communities, especially those of Arab and Islamic descent, will feel safe and secure from the specter of fear and crime.

If there's anything we can do, please don't hesitate to call. 

With warm regards to everyone in your organization:

Lloyd K. Meyer
Assistant United States Attorney

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Kalamazoo Mayor:

KALAMAZOO) (2003-03-18) As war with Iraq appears all but inevitable, Kalamazoo's mayor is calling for tolerance. Robert Jones says the U.S. dispute with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein should not become a campaign against people of Middle Eastern heritage. Jones says he's received a letter from the American-Arab  Anti-Discrimination Committee asking cities to speak out against harassment and discrimination as the U.S. prepares for war. Jones told fellow City commissioners last night that Kalamazoo, the nation and the world are in a perilous time .

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GOVERNOR:

LANSING (NEWS 3) - March 19, 2003 - Seeking to calm an anxious public, Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced her emergency preparedness plan Tuesday and declared "we as a state stand prepared."............Gov. Granholm also urged the public to not lash out at Arabs or Muslims in the midst of increasing tensions in the Persian Gulf region. "Let me ask our citizens to be tolerant of one another," she said. "Please do not take out your frustration or your anger or anxiety on your fellow citizens."

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MORE:

ADC Michigan Continues Community Outreach with Government

After September 11, ADC Michigan took the initiative to contact US Attorney Jeffrey Collins of the Eastern District of Michigan and request the establishment of regular monthly meetings between his office and representatives of the Arab American community.  Since then, on a monthly basis, Arab American leaders have been meeting with him to discuss various issues of concern.

In this regard, ADC has made great efforts to communicate its concerns, surrounding the impact of the war on Arab and Muslim Americans, to the government.  ADC sent notices to federal, state and local agencies, including US Attorney Collins, Governor Jennifer Granholm, Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, Congressmen John Dingell and John Conyers , Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano and many area mayors from Detroit, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Southfield, requesting that they reinforce the message of tolerance, as our nation faces a war against Iraq.

The FBI acknowledged and reiterated ADC’s concerns on March 12, 2003 in an article that explained:

The FBI has warned U.S. law enforcement officials that hate crimes against Arab-Americans could increase if the United States goes to war with Iraq or if there is another terror attack on America.  "War with Iraq or a terrorist incident is likely to precipitate an increase in hate crimes against Arab-Americans," a bulletin said. 

Another note of concern that involves the FBI, includes recent developments that indicate that the FBI might solicit information from individuals of Iraqi decent in the event of a war against Iraq, as part of an operation called “Liberty Shield.  ADC has in the past, and continues to reinforce its mission to defend the civil liberties of Arab Americans and ensure that they are not selectively treated, harassed, or intimidated by government agencies. 

ADC has sustained active communication with the Michigan FBI Field Office, regarding these prospective interviews.  The FBI has reassured ADC of the following:

1.                  If the FBI should decide to solicit information, it would only be on a voluntary basis and at the discretion of the individual.  In other words, these interviews are not mandatory and volunteers will not be considered suspects. 

2.                  The FBI would not target any individual, family, or group for this purpose.

3.                  If someone were to volunteer information, the interviews would be held at a location preferenced by the individual and may include the presence of legal counsel.

4.                  The FBI assured that the rights of Arab Americans will not be violated if such a process were to occur and that any unprofessional conduct will be dealt with swiftly and aggressively. 

5.                  The FBI asks all Arab or Muslim Americans, who may be targets of harassment, to report incidents to the their office, or to ADC Michigan.

ADC NATIONAL ADVISORY

In light of the high likelihood that the United States may soon be involved in a war with Iraq, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), urges the community to refer and adhere to the following guidelines.

ADC regards this advisory as a prudent and necessary step, given the high potential for conflict in Iraq.  ADC has developed this advisory in light of the historic pattern of hate crimes, abuse and discrimination faced by the Arab-American and Muslim communities during the 1991 Gulf War and in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.  ADC urges everyone to exercise common sense and rely on their own best judgment in any situation, but offers the following as suggestions, should the need arise: