WMUK 102.1 FM (National Public Radio) Transcript from the Press Conference with Mayor Jones March 31, 2003 on the Tolerance Proclamation

 

 

KZO ARAB DISCRIMINATION-1/OSBOURNE

WMUK/AR

 

Some Arab-Americans and Muslims in the Kalamazoo say they’re afraid of harassment and discrimination as the war with Iraq continues. There haven’t been any reported attacks in the Kalamazoo area since the war began. But Alexandria Osbourne of the Kalamazoo Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee says there have been incidents in other parts of the country:

 

   (25/ARAB DISCRIM-1   …to live in.)

 

Kalamazoo City commissioners vote next Monday on a proclamation urging residents not to allow attacks or discrimination against Muslims. Mayor Robert Jones says fighting intolerance is the “American thing to do”. State and federal officials have also said they will investigate reports of ethnic harassment or intimidation.

 

 

=00=

 KZO ARAB DISCRIMINATION-2/OSBOURNE

WMUK/AR

 Kalamazoo is joining many other cities around the country urging residents not to tolerate attacks or discrimination against Muslims and Arab-Americans. City commissioners vote next Monday on a proclamation urging tolerance. Some local Arab-Americans say they’re concerned about the possibility of harassment as the war with Iraq continues. Alexandria Osbourne of the Kalamazoo Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee says it’s important for elected officials to speak out:

 

   (18/ARAB DISCRIM-2    …will help.)

 Osbourne says she isn’t aware of any physical attacks against Arabs or Muslims in Kalamazoo since the war began. But she says some Muslim women who wear traditional head scarves feel uncomfortable in public because people stare. City officials say Kalamazoo has Michigan’s second-largest Arab-American and Muslim community as a percentage of the general population.

 

=00=