ADC Advisory Statement to Arab Americans and Muslims-

May 13, 2004

In light of the horrible violence in Iraq, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), is releasing the following advisory statement to members of the Arab-American and Muslim communities.

ADC regards this advisory as a prudent and necessary step given the recent acts of violence in Iraq. ADC has developed this advisory in light of the historic pattern of hate crimes, abuse and discrimination faced by the Arab-American and Muslim communities during the 1991 Gulf War and in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. ADC urges everyone to exercise common sense and rely on their own best judgment, but offers the following as suggestions should the need arise:

1) IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS PLACED IN PHYSICAL DANGER BECAUSE OF YOUR ETHNICITY, RELIGION, OR NATIONAL ORIGIN:

	-Call the police (dial 911 in most communities)
	-Contact the FBI Detroit Field Office at (313) 965-2323 or email detroit@fbi.gov.  It is the FBI's job to investigate hate-motivated crimes and specific threats of violence
	-If the threat is imminent, go to a safe location such as a police station or church
	-If you feel threatened in your home or community, move to a friend's house, or a hotel for as long as necessary
	-Contact ADC Michigan to file a complaint by emailing shachem@adc.org, by calling (313) 581-1201, or by faxing your complaint to (313) 581-1604.  You may also file a complaint by contacting ADC's NaAtional Office at (202) 244-2990 or emailing legal@adc.org

2) IF YOUR PLACE OF WORK, PLACE OF WORSHIP, OR SCHOOL IS IDENTIFIED WITH ARABS AND/OR MUSLIMS:

	-Make sure the location has an open line of communication with law enforcement.
	-Make sure you know all the exits to your building
	-Make sure the location has a current emergency plan that is defined and can be implemented should the need arise

3) IF YOUR CHILD CAN BE IDENTIFIED AS ARAB OR MUSLIM, OR MAY BE CONFUSED FOR BEING OF MIDDLE-EASTERN ORIGIN:

-	Make sure you discuss the events with your children and that they feel comfortable speaking with an adult if they face harassment by others.  For advice on speaking to your children about the situation in Iraq, please see: http://www.adc.org/index.php?id=1754
-	Make sure your children know what steps to take to avoid confrontation with other students
-	Work with your children's school to implement an anti-discriminatory policy

ADC would like to emphasize that it is issuing this advisory based on experiences in the community in recent years, and purely as a precautionary measure. ADC presents these suggestions for the consideration of the Arab-American and Muslim communities, to be evaluated by each family and individual according to their own best judgment and in the context of their own situation and relationship with their local community.