By Michaele Turnage
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
In the past two weeks, an Indian man has been shot to death,
firebombings have occurred at mosques, shots have been fired at an
Afghani home, a local university student was followed home by
gun-wielding men and school children have been beaten.
Racial and religious relations have become more tense after the
series of hate crimes following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
“It’s really sad how people associate specific
actions with a group of people,” said Mostafa Mahboob, a
fourth-year history student.
The American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the largest
Arab American organization, has documented more than 250 hate
crimes nationwide since the attacks.
The Muslim Students Association has established an e-mail
address through which students can report hate crimes. In addition,
they have advised students not to walk alone.
Students can only speculate why someone would choose to commit a
hate crime.
“A lot of it stems from people already having stereotypes
about certain groups of people,” said Samahang Pilipino
President Janice Quindara.
She noted that MSA and student of color organizations have
discussed ways to address possible threats to UCLA community
members.
The Undergraduate Students Association Council is planning
programs to facilitate dialogue and promote awareness between
students with different experiences.
“We want to be able to provide an atmosphere of peace and
solidarity on campus,” said USAC general representative Theo
Apostol.
With emotions running high as Americans fly their flags in a
show of pride and others succumb to anger over the suspected
terrorists, many of whom are of Middle Eastern descent, some fear
race and religious relations have been scarred.
“It’s going to take time for those kind of emotions
to heal,” said Anita Banerji, an associate at the Indian
American Center for Political Awareness in Washington, D.C.
In addition to documenting hate crimes, the AAADC is providing
legal advice to Arab Americans who may be approached by FBI agents
or police about the terrorist attacks.
Some have not ruled out the possibility of negative sentiments
akin to those after Pearl Harbor.
“That pushes us even more to make sure people understand
the issue,” Quindara said.
Many legislators and leaders have said violence directed against
Americans by Americans is wrong.
“Surely there could be no greater victory for the
terrorists than if we were to direct our anger toward each
other,” Chancellor Albert Carnesale said at a Sept. 13
memorial service. “We must avoid making the tragic error of
assuming guilt by association.”
Mohammad Mertaban, a third-year psychobiology student, said
people should be more open-minded.
“They shouldn’t let their emotions affect their
actions,” Mertaban said.
Mahboob, who, like Mertaban, works for Al-Talib, the Muslim
student newsmagazine, said people should talk to Muslims before
judging them.
Despite the recent crimes, Mahboob and Mertaban said many
Americans have showered the Muslim and Middle Eastern communities
in kindness. The majority of people don’t feel hateful, they
said.
While the recent incidents have made students more alert, many
still believe in people’s goodwill.
“People will recognize in time that we are hurting each
other and that we will work together, regardless of caste, color or
creed, in order to combat terrorism … and to prevent infighting
among Americans,” Banerji said.