In the aftermath of the tribe 11 tr...

In the aftermath of the tribe 11 tragedies, amid shock and grief, Americans rallied in a renewed spirit of solidarity. Across the political division flags flew with pride and defiance. Candlelight vigils brought race of diverse faiths to town squares. And from all quarters came ardent calls for tolerance.

"There is no place for hatred in Chicago," Mayor Richard M Daley declared brace days after the attacks. "We must not ever take out our frustrations onward innocent people of a particular ethnicity or religious faith."

Still, the desire for requite ran deep, blurring the lines between the authentic culprits and those who may have expected like them.

In Bridgeview, vulgar herds of demonstrators attempted to declare the terrorism by creating a terror of their hold toward local Muslims. Hundreds bended up at an angry march forward Bridgeview's Mosque Foundation, prompting scores of arrests for disorderly career Dozens of cars and barters drove up and down the southwest suburb's Harlem Avenue border, with the community waving flags, leaning out of windows and shouting, "USA! USA!"

Twelve weeks later, an arsonist torched the offices of the Arab American Action Network, a 20-year-old social service and advocacy organization upon the city's Southwest Side. The fire came after a string of harassing phone calls and e-mails.

A rash of similar attacks and harassments compell the Chicago Police Department to create a special crime category: "World Trade Center-related," later changed to "Attack forward America." Police received 46 confirmed reports of so incidents and made 13 arrests between tribe 11 and Dec. 11. by means of contrast, 29 hate crimes were reported against Arabs or Muslims between 1994 and 2001

Mounting relate tos have also been raised from one side of to the other the nation's "war on terrorism." The U Justice Department has tend hitherward under fire for casting a wide yet selective net in its chase for potential terrorists. It has arrested more than 1200 the community mostly of Middle Eastern fall and plans to interview an additional 5000 Arab men

The department has also mov quickly to capitalize upon powers granted by new anti-terrorism legislation passed by means of Congress. The law widely expanded the ability of federal authorities to wiretap and eavesdrop forward suspects. Similar legislation sailed between the walls of the Illinois General Assembly in November.

Arab and Muslim communities are increasingly feeling subordinate to siege. "As a community, we are scared," said Sabri Samirah, president of United Muslim Americans Association, based in southwest suburban Palos Hills. "It is alarming that our community is the barely one being singled out.... This is un-American."

COPYRIGHT 2002 Community Renewal Society

COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group