------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Sept. 27, 2001 issue of Workers World newspaper ------------------------- CHICAGO AFTER RACIST ATTACKS: HUMAN CHAIN DEFENDS MOSQUE By Lou Paulsen Chicago Progressives in the Chicago area are discussing better ways to come to the defense of Arab, Muslim and other Asian peoples who face a continuing wave of racist attacks. On two successive nights following the Sept. 11 disaster, hundreds of racist white youths, waving American flags, gathered in the southwest suburb of Oak Lawn and marched toward a mosque in nearby Bridgeview. Police in riot gear held back the racists, but shut down access to the Arab community near the mosque, forcing people to show identification to enter and leave. In talking with media, the police referred to the mob as "showing their patriotism." Other assaults on people and property have taken place all over the Chicago area. A south Asian gas station attendant was assaulted twice in one day, the second time by a man with a machete. A gasoline bomb was thrown into an Arab community center, fortunately doing no damage, and gunshots were fired into a shop in Gary. A cab driver was beaten by two men, and a mosque in Chicago was vandalized. As of Saturday police had reported a dozen attacks serious enough to be called "hate crimes." There have been more since, and other assaults may not have been reported to the police. And verbal harassment is even more common. Many Muslim women have been afraid to leave their homes in traditional dress, and it was estimated by a Sun-Times reporter that one third of the city's Muslim cabdrivers have been staying off the job. A young man told a Workers World Party meeting, "My girlfriend's brother broke up one attack. A racist had dragged a guy out of a convenience store and was beating him up in the parking lot." WORKERS OPPOSE RACIST ATTACKS The vast majority of the working people are clearly opposed to this sort of racist attack. Religious leaders and community leaders have participated in vigils and interfaith services with Muslims, and government officials have so far denounced them and have promised arrests and prosecutions. On Friday, over 100 people, organized by the Southwest Organizing Project and the Southwest Youth Collaborative, formed a human chain of solidarity around the Al-Salaam Mosque on 63rd street at Homan. This will take place every week during the Friday midday prayer service. One paper reported that "Protestants and Catholics, whites, blacks and Hispanics carried signs with the Muslim greeting, Peace be upon you, Assalam Alaikum, and Christians, Jews and others support our Muslim and Arab brothers and sisters. But progressives in Chicago realize that more has to be done. Workers have to make it clear that they won't just "call the police," but will personally come to the defense of the targets of racist attacks and assaults. And, as an Arab American organizer pointed out, "Right now it's been private people doing these attacks. But pretty soon, it'll be the government. They'll attack individuals and organizations, or sweep through the neighborhood arresting people. That's when we'll need even more support." - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
