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In wake of attacks, some Arab-Americans feel like strangers in America
Friday, Sept. 14, 2001
 
• Background on Osama bin Laden
• Photos of suspected hijackers

Video:
• Sept. 12: Bush speaks to nation from Cabinet Room
• Sept. 13: Bush warns of 'new kind of war'
• Sept. 14: Bush visits workers at Ground Zero
• Sept. 14: Day of Remembrance at National Cathedral
By ALEXANDRA R. MOSES
Associated Press Writer

DEARBORN, Mich. – Ramzi Chammout fled to the United States from Lebanon nearly 12 years ago, escaping a war that took the lives of his parents. He never felt so free as he did in America – until Tuesday.

"Now we are threatened. We are terrorists. We are dangerous," said the 33-year-old Chammout, who became a U.S. citizen in May.

In the wake of Tuesday's terror attacks, which have been linked to men of Middle Eastern descent, Arab-Americans and Muslims across the country say they have been attacked, threatened and harassed.

Late Thursday, an armed man was arrested after allegedly trying to set fire to a mosque in Seattle, police said. A mosque in Denton, Texas, was firebombed and another in Lynnwood, Wash., was splattered with black paint. Police in Bridgeview, Ill., turned back 300 people as they tried to march on a mosque.

Early Friday, a man was arrested after ramming his car into the Islamic Center of Evansville, Ind., police said. Witnesses told police the man broke one of the building's windows with his fist and threw a rock through another window.

In Virginia, a woman was charged with threatening to bomb a Hampton mosque, while police in Salt Lake City beefed up patrols after a man allegedly tried to burn down a Pakistani-owned restaurant.

The windows of Mazen Mislmanion's family service station in Fair Haven, Mich., were shot up by vandals Wednesday night.

"It's like we did it or something," Mislmanion, who planned to donate blood this week, told the Times Herald of Port Huron. "People are swearing at me."

On Thursday, President Bush urged the public not to take vengeance against Arab-American and Muslim communities. Despite that, there is apprehension in the community, said Nasser Beydoun, director of the American Arab Chamber of Commerce.

"We've been fighting an uphill battle to show we're good Americans, we're hardworking," he said. "A lot of people left their homelands to escape this violence."

In Los Angeles, police are investigating at least 11 reported hate incidents, including two involving gunfire at an Arab-American owned business and one in which a gun was put to a woman's face.

Mayor Willie Brown spoke out against such acts after a prayer service at the Islamic Society of San Francisco's mosque on Friday. The mosque has received about 30 threatening phone calls since Tuesday.

Brown told Muslims not to be fearful.

"Remove from your psyche the fear that I once had. Every time there was a violent act in urban America, I thought, `I hope it wasn't a black man that did this,"' Brown said.

And, indeed, some Arab-Americans refused to be cowed.

"I was born in New Jersey. I'm just as American as everyone else and I'd like someone to tell me I'm not," said Maysoon Abu-Omarah, 30, who wore a traditional Muslim scarf while shopping at a market in Dearborn. "I will not be threatened by anyone."

By Friday, the Seattle mosque allegedly targeted by an arsonist had become a symbol of tolerance, with a steady stream of well-wishers bringing flowers and cards.

Resident Linda Lavin threw her arms around Abdul Qadir and said she was sorry someone threatened the mosque, where he worships. Then she hugged the federal agents investigating the case.

"We need to look within ourselves and find peace, not hate," she said.

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