Preventing Acts of Hate and Discrimination in the Wake of Fort Hood

Dear fellow human relations/human rights leaders:

As details of the terrible tragedy at Fort Hood and we mourn thesenselessloss of life and injury, we need to remind people that they should not react to this by blaming the horrific actions of one man, who happens to be Muslim American, on the many Muslim Americans who condemn the violence.

This is critical to avoid acts of hate, prejudice and discrimination that we know from history can follow such an incident.  Anti-Muslim/Middle Eastern hate crimes in Los Angeles County shot up 2000% after the September 11th attacks in 2001.  Nationally, there was a sharp increase in incidents of hate and discrimination against those Americans who looked Muslim. Most of them occurred in the 3 weeks immediately following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

We call upon our leaders – in government, in faith communities, in business and in community and civic organizations – to speak out on this to prevent acts of prejudice and hatred against innocent Americans solely because of their appearance or religious beliefs.  Let us not compound the tragic violence at Fort Hood with more tragedy, victimizing innocent people based on stereotypes and prejudice.  We need law enforcement leaders to stand with Americans of the Muslim faith, with Sikhs, and other vulnerable groups, to make it clear that scapegoating will not be tolerated in our communities. We need teachers and leaders in schools, faith communities, civic and business organizations of all types to engage with their respective stakeholders and members on this issue, and to discourage the bigotry and stereotyping against innocent fellow Americans that so easily emerge during these times of high emotion.

Robin Toma
Executive Director
L.A. County Human Relations Commission

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See also, Bill Ong Hing, Vigilante Racism: The De-Americanization of Immigrant America, 7 MICH.  J. OF RACE AND L. 441 (2002).