WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) has received hundreds of complaints in response to the toll free line established last week to collect information on potential incidents of hate crimes or discrimination. The Commission encourages Arab and South Asian Americans, people of the Muslim faith and other persons who believe they have been the target of discrimination in the wake of last Tuesday's terrorist attacks to call the agency.
Complaints have been received from across the nation from Arab and South Asian Americans as well as Muslims or those perceived to be from those communities. The complaints include allegations of harassment by neighbors, employers, and in schools as well as complaints of vandalism to homes and other personal property.
As a fact-finding federal agency, the Commission is cataloguing the discrimination complaints and forwarding them to the appropriate federal enforcement agencies.
09/18/01