Leaders from the Arab American Institute (AAI) and other key Arab American and Muslim American organizations met with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to request that the federal government help quell the recent tide of bigotry, according to AAI President Dr. James Zogby. AAI joined with the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), the Islamic Society of North America (INSA), and Muslim Advocates to seek clarification on actions and policies concerning the Department of Justice s response to anti-Arab and Muslim bigotry. The groups also urged Gonzalez to support the termination of the National Security Entry Registration System, a program that began under the Bush administration as a counter terrorism measure. According to the groups, the special registration system compromised the relationship between law enforcement and the Arab and Muslim immigrant communities and damaged the U.S. image abroad while failing to contribute significantly to national security. Zogby said, Sadly, this past year has demonstrated how tolerant our national discourse has become of bigotry toward Arab and Muslim Americans. We call upon the Attorney General and the Department of Justice to provide the leadership and unity-building they did in the days following the September 11 attacks on a more consistent basis.
