Hate-Crime Hotline Launched

State officials Thursday announced a new hotline to aid targets of harassment and hate crimes amid signs of a new surge in such incidents affecting Arab Americans and Muslims since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Aileen Adams, secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency, and Dennis Hayashi, director of the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, said they have received reports that hate incidents, after tapering off for a few weeks, have increased again in California.

On Wednesday, Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer also said he has received such reports.

None of the officials gave any precise numbers.

Hayashi said his information is “mainly anecdotal,” the product of reports he has been getting from offices around the state.

Incidents may be reported at a new toll-free number, (866) 460-4357. Staff members answering the calls, including interpreters, will take the reports and help callers fill out forms enabling investigators to go to work.

Adams said the reports will be forwarded to the appropriate agencies for investigation and legal action.

Salam al-Marayati, director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council and vice president of the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission, said there recently has been an increase in incidents of harassment and that schools are a particular place of trouble.

Al-Marayati said Muslim girls wearing head scarves have suffered harassment. He paid tribute to a group of non-Muslims in Pomona who have turned out at an Islamic school to escort children home, discouraging harassment.

He criticized several talk show hosts throughout the state for making provocative remarks.

Al-Marayati said he would not “point fingers” by naming the broadcasters, although he said the Muslim Public Affairs Council has asked, and received, time on some talk shows to rebut the remarks.

He said that since Sept. 11, the Islamic Center of Southern California has received about 100 telephone calls reporting hate incidents, of which he said only about a dozen constitute hate crimes and the rest are hate speech.

“We support freedom of speech, but we hope people will not convey hate messages,” he said.

Adams called for dialogue among broadcasters to discuss toning down provocative remarks on radio shows.

Also appearing at a news conference Thursday was Roland Coleman, president of the Los Angeles County Bar Assn., who warned: “When a country does not defend individuals, then you have Nazi Germany.”

He said the association will make lawyers available on a pro bono basis to assist people who are victims of discriminatory conduct.