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City
guards against backlash on Arab, Muslims
March
31, 2003 - 7:38PM |
KALAMAZOO
(NEWS 3) - In a preemptive strike against possible backlash
against Arab and Muslim-Americans, the city of Kalamazoo is taking
a stand against intolerance.
Mayor Robert Jones and the chairman of the city's community
advisory board discussed proposals that could help.
Among the actions that the city is considering:
* A hotline for those who feel harassed or threatened
* Creating "tolerance education" in schools
* Continuing regular meetings with Arab and Muslims-Americans
Jones underscored the importance of being proactive. "To make
sure that we don't have anything that tarnishes our great
city," he said. "Not because we don't want the city to
be tarnished, but because it's the right thing to do."
Steve Dhouib, an employee at Kalamazoo's Shawarma King restaurant,
say he has not noticed any change recently in how he's treated
since the war began. "Actually, people have tried to be nice
to me," he says. "I'm married to an American woman and
all her family, once the war started, came over to my place. They
ask me, 'how you doing? 'How you feel?"
Members of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee are
encouraged. "It will show the citizens of Kalamazoo that it
will not be tolerated and it also will tell others in our
community that they can leave their homes; that they can come out;
that they're welcomed residents of Kalamazoo," said the
group's Alexandria Osborne.
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