ADC warns of hate crime against American Arabs after Charlie and American Sniper

Charie Hebdo and American Sniper behind rise in hate rhetoric aimed at American Arabs and Muslims.



American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee

Community Advisory:  ADC Alarmed by Increase in Hate Rhetoric

Washington, DC | www.adc.org | January 20, 2014 - The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is alarmed by the significant rise in violent hate rhetoric targeting the Arab and Muslim American communities.  It is the opinion of ADC that this increase in rhetoric is directly linked to the negative media coverage and hateful propaganda launched against the Arab and Muslim communities following the attacks on the Charlie Hedbo offices in France.

Further, there has been a significant amount of violent messages targeting Arab and Muslim Americans following the release of the film “American Sniper.” Many of threats are made over social media, especially via Facebook and Twitter. The threats advocate for the murder of Arabs, one going as far as to say, “Great f**king movie and now I really want to kill some f**king ragheads.” In another threat, since deleted, Twitter user Dex Harmon wrote, “American sniper makes me wanna go shoot some f**kin Arabs,” which was followed by emojis of three handguns:



ADC takes all threats seriously and has reported such threats to law enforcement. ADC reminds its members and greater community to be safe and exercise precaution. Please keep the following precautionary advisory tips in mind.

Precaution Advisory:

ADC is releasing the following advisory statement to members of the Arab, Muslim, South Asian and Sikh American communities.

   If you are placed in physical danger because of your ethnicity, religion or national origin: Call the police (dial 911 in most communities), and/or click here to contact your local FBI office. It is the FBI's job to investigate hate-motivated crimes and specific threats of violence. You can also report a hate crime to the FBI online using this form.

   Ensure that any place of worship you attend is prepared with an emergency plan that can be implemented should the need arise. Also, be familiar with all the exits to your place of worship, in case the building is attacked.

   For those attending Church services, and for Muslims attending daily prayers, contact your local law enforcement officials and ask for protection if you feel threatened.

   It is advisable to find out whether your place of worship has an open line of communication with law enforcement. If there is no line of communication, it is advised that one be established.

   If you have a child who is in school, and you are concerned about bullying, take a moment to speak to your child about any issues he or she may face. Also, share any concerns you have about bullying with the school administration.

   Ensure that your children are aware that they can report any incidents of bullying or harassment to a school official or other adult. Work with your children's school to implement an anti-discriminatory policy, if a satisfactory one is not already in place.

   If you or your child is a victim of online bullying please address the matter by following the steps outlined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which can be found here.

   Ensure that your children are aware that they can report any incidents of bullying or harassment to a school official or other adult. Work with your children's school to implement an anti-discriminatory policy, if a satisfactory one is not already in place.

   If you feel you have been a victim of a hate crime, of if any individual or place of worship needs any assistance with any of the above, including dealing with law enforcement, please contact the ADC Pro Bono Legal Department at 202-244-2990 or legal@adc.org.

http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50434/t/0/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=1308189