Immigrant Resource List
from: Chloe Osmer e-mail: Osmer@uclink4.berkeley.edu
Arnoldo Garcia of the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights gave a presentation on some of the effects of 9/11 on public opinion, legislation and organizing for immigrants and immigration related issues. Some of the legislative repercussions include anti-terrorist proposals similar to legislation passed in 1996. A proposal currently in is the House and the Senate (the Senate version is worse) is the Uniting and Strengthening America Act ("USA Act"). If passed it would allow INS and Federal authorities greater discretion in detaining immigrants, deporting them and restricting their access to counsel and federal courts. For more information on this bill, check out the following ACLU description: http://www.aclu.org/congress/l100801g.html 693 immigrants are currently being detained by federal authorities in connection with terrorism investigations. There has also been proposal for a national ID card that has gained support in the senate.
Other effects on immigrants and organizing mentioned during the discussion were that major layoffs from the economic downturn that was worsened on 9/11, particularly in the hotel and restaurant industries. The worsening economic situation and the anti-immigrant sentiments since 9/11 have also meant that unions and industries that were pushing hard for immigration reform before are now backing off somewhat (concerning both guest worker and amnesty proposals).
It was suggested that LION take a role in raising concern for the 693 immigrants who are currently being detained and in pointing out that the political climate is being used to justify attacks not just on immigrant workers but on organized labor in general. The Legislative and Policy Cmt. of LION will research what other new legislation affecting immigrants is currently being discussed and which, if any, proposals for immigration reform have been taken off the table. If you are interested in participating in this committee, please contact David Bacon at dbacon@igc.org
What follows is a resource list of Hate Crime hotlines compiled
by the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Please feel free
to distribute.
In solidarity,
Chloe Osmer
Resource List and Hotlines to Report Hate Crimes in the Wake of September
11, 2001
LOCAL/STATE/REGIONAL
Grassroots Organizers from the Muslim and Arab Community, San Francisco
Bay Area: 1 (877) 282-2288.
Grassroots Organizers from the Muslim and Arab Community (GOMAC) in the San
Francisco Bay Area has a 24-hour hotline for people who are victims of, or
witnesses to, hate crimes in the Bay Area. The number is 1 (877) 282-2288
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San Francisco Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights: To report hate crimes
or for assistance, contact Khari J.Tillery, ktillery@lccr.com,
or call Tel: 415-543-9444. SFLCCR, 301 Mission St., Suite 400; San Francisco,
CA 94105; Fax 415-543-0296
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SIREN Hotlines -- Services, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network, San
Jose California
To report hate violence and for referral to services:
* Farsi: (408) 286-5680 Ext 108
* Spanish: (408) 286-1698
* Vietnamese: (408) 286-1448
* SIREN general number (408) 286-5680
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Southern California
* Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA):
(213) 353-1347, (888) 624-4752, or (213) 353-1333
* Asian Pacific American Legal Center (213) 977-7500
* Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center Anti-Violence Project (800)
373-2227 or (323) 993-7677
* Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Los Angeles (323) 290-4126
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Asian American Pacific Islander Circles, provides legal referrals and
advocacy for victims of hate violence stemming from September 11 backlash
click on: www.apicircles.org
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Oregon
To report hate violence and/or to seek support or services in Oregon:
CAUSA, 3545 Portland Rd. NE Suite 200, Salem, OR 97303
Tel (503) 763-1694; Fax(503) 399-1183
E-mail: jkbrier@yahoo.com rblobolopez@yahoo.com
mano@open.org
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CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities, New York, NY
To report hate violence and/or to seek support or services, (718) 220-7391
ext 22.
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Texas
ILEMP AFSC Immigration Law Enforcement Monitoring Project Offices
To report abuses on U.S.-Mexico border
* Houston: (713) 926-2799
* El Paso: (915) 577-0724
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In Texas, for legal advice, referrals, or representation:
Texas Civil Rights Project, (512) 474-5073, 2212 E. Martin Luther King,
Jr. Blvd., Austin, TX 78722, E-mail: HateCrimes@TexasCivilRightsProject.org,
Web: www.TexasCivilRightsProject.org
Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law of Texas, Immigrant and Refugee
Rights Project, (210) 736-1503, 2311 N. Flores, San Antonio, TX 78212
ACLU of Texas, P.O. Box 3629, Austin, TX 78764-3629
Crime Victims Compensation: The Crime Victim s Compensation Fund provides
financial assistance to victims of violent crimes, including hate crimes like
assault, kidnapping, sexual assault, and murder. For more information or to
make a claim, contact the Texas Attorney General or Crime Victim s Compensation
Fund at 1-800-983-9933.
=========================
NATIONAL
American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
Report hate crimes and harassment against Arab Americans and Muslims: (202)
244-2990; e-mail legal@adc.org
ADC's web pages provide outstanding resources, information, news, and analysis
http://www.adc.org
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Legal Department
4201 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Suite 300 -- Washington, D.C. 20008, U.S.A.
Tel: (202) 244-2990, Fax: (202) 244-3196 E-mail: legal@adc.org
Web : http://www.adc.org
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Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund -- (212) 760-9110 or
(212) 966-5932; or email: sling@aaldef.org
Incidents of attacks against Asian groups should be reported to Sinyen Ling,
who handles anti-Asian violence for the Asian American Legal Defense and Education
Fund. Call (212) 760-9110 or (212) 966-5932; email sling@aaldef.org
All information will be kept confidential and in the custody of attorneys.
It is very helpful to report as much specificity about the incident as possible,
such as the name and ethnicity of the victim, what happened, what was said,
done, thrown, where the incident occurred, time of the incident, and description
of the assailants.
For more information:
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
99 Hudson Street; New York, NY 10013 -- (212) 760-9110 or (212) 966-5932
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American Civil Liberties Union
ACLU National: For more information see new ACLU clearinghouse at:
http://www.aclu.org/difficultdays/
National ACLU Racial Profiling Hotline: 1 (877) 6-PROFILE
ACLU Northern California: Hotline to report any hate crimes, racial
harassment or violence, airport searches or against protestors and for other
activities: (415) 621-2493 extension 322
To report law enforcement racial profiling:
English language: 1 (877) DWB-STOP [1-877-392-7867]
Spanish: 1 (877) PARALOS [1-877-727-2567]
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The Council on American-Islamic Relations -- www.cair-net.org
To file an hate violence incident report with CAIR, you can do so online or
download a form and submit it with supporting documents (such as police reports,
etc.) to:
CAIR Incident Reports: CAIR, 453 New Jersey Ave SE ~ Washington, DC
20003-4034
Tel. 202.488.8787 ~ Fax. 202.488.0833 ~ Email. cair@cair-net.org
CAIR's Reacting To Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes
If you believe you have been the victim of a hate crime, you
should:Report the crime to your local police station immediately. Ask that
the incident be treated as a hate crime. Follow up with investigators. Inform
CAIR even if you believe it is a small incident. Document the incident. Write
down exactly what was said and/or done by the offender. Save evidence. Take
photographs. Act quickly. Each incident must be dealt with when it happens,
not when convenient Decide on the appropriate action to be taken. Consider
issuing a statement from community leaders, holding a news conference, organizing
a protest, meeting with officials, or starting a letter writing campaign.
Mobilize community support. Contact CAIR and a local mosque or organization
Stay on top of the situation. Announce results. When the incident is resolved,
make an announcement to the same people and organizations originally contacted.
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Equal Employment Opportunity Commission -- (800) 669-4000 voice or
(800) 669-6820 TTY
The tragic events of September 11 have given rise to increased concerns about
intimidation and harassment in the workplace directed at individuals who are
or are perceived to be Muslim, Arab, Middle Eastern, Afghani, or South Asian.
In order to help employers and labor unions guard against unlawful discrimination
based on religion, ethnicity, or country of origin, the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission has developed an information sheet, which is available by contacting
EEOC's Publications Distribution Center at (800) 669-3362 voice and (800)
800-3302 TTY and on the EEOC's Web site at www.eeoc.gov.
Also, the San Francisco District Office has printed new brochures in Arabic,
Urdu, Hindi and Tagalog. (We already have English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese,
Korean.)
The home page of the EEOC Web site currently has a special section addressing issues related to the September 11 events. In addition to the information sheet, visitors may access press releases and further instructions for filing a charge with the EEOC. As a public service, we also have included a link to information about the employment rights of reservists in the U.S. armed forces.
At this critical time, please do all you can to help prevent incidents of employment discrimination by educating your members, employees, and constituents. We encourage the duplication and broad distribution of this information. And remember, the EEOC is here to answer your questions. You may contact the Commission office nearest you by calling (800) 669-4000 voice or (800) 669-6820 TTY.
Sincerely,
Linda Li
Program Analyst
U.S. EEOC - San Francisco District
901 Market Street San Francisco CA 94103
t. (415) 356-5215
f. (415) 356-5126
Email linda.li@eeoc.gov
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National Lawyers Guild
NLG provides legal referral services, updates on proposed anti-terrorist legislation,
and other links http://www.nlg.org/
NLG National office: (212) 627-2656
NLG National Immigration Project: (617) 227-9727
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National Immigration Law Center -- (213) 639-3900
NILC provides technical assistance to immigration service providers and other
social service providers. Immigration law information is available on http://www.nilc.org/
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To report hate crimes against Sikhs, visit: www.sikh.org
Sikh.Org is based in New York City. For more information please contact info@sikh.org
or 212-894-3752 ext 3603
"The word 'Sikh' in the Punjabi language means 'disciple', Sikhs are
the disciples of God who follow the writings and teachings of the Ten Sikh
Gurus. The wisdom of these teachings in Sri Guru Granth Sahib are practical
and universal in their appeal to all mankind...."
From http://www.sikh.org/hatecrime
"This website has been created to assist in the process of documenting
the after effects of this tragedy on the Sikh community, and to provide a
coordinated centre to focus attention on the unfortunate targetting of the
Sikhs. Feedback is welcome.
"In solidarity with all communities that are suffering in the aftermath
of this tragedy, the creators of this site would like to extend an invitation
to members of all affected communities to also use this site to document hate
crimes taking place against their communities. Contact: hateagainstsikhs@yahoo.com"
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South Asian Bar Association -- Hate Crimes Help Line 1 (888) 99NOHATE
[1 (888) 996-64283]
South Asian Bar Association, http://www.southasianbar.org, provides assistance
to South Asians and others seeking help with incidents of racial harassment
and hate violence.
------------------------------------------------------ U.S. Commission on
Civil Rights -- (800) 552-6843
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) has established a hotline
for reports of hate crimes against Arab American, Muslim and South Asian merican
victims of violent incidents following the hijacking attacks on
September 11.
The USCCR hotline number is 800-552-6843.
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Compiled by National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights -- 310
8th Street Suite 303, Oakland, CA 94607 -- Tel (510) 465-1984; Fax (510) 465-1885
www.nnirr.org
Chloe Osmer
Center for Labor Research and Education
Institute of Industrial Relations, UC Berkeley
2521 Channing Way
Berkeley, CA 94720-5555
phone: 510/ 643-2355
fax: 510/ 642-6432
http://iir.berkeley.edu/clre