FBI Interviews of Arab-Americans

We wish to commend The Times for your editorial “The Need to Avoid Arab Stereotyping” (Jan. 18).

Hate crime against Arabs and Muslims in Los Angeles County has increased substantially as a result of the Gulf War, as has harassment of Latinos, Armenians and many others who “look like Arabs.”

Yet the 150,000 Arab-Americans and 200,000 Muslim-Americans in this county reflect as much diversity of background and opinion as any ethnic or religious group among us.

Many have escaped problems of the Middle East to seek freedom and opportunity in this country. Most are understandably concerned about the war. All have the same rights and protections as any other American.

Those who commit hate crimes hate Arabs, Muslims, Jews, blacks, Latinos, Asians and others alike, and perhaps themselves most of all.

EUGENE S. MORNELL, Executive Director, Commission on Human Relations, Los Angeles County