Before I spend a moment discussing the current investigation,
I want to talk briefly about another area of the FBI’s responsibilities,
and that relates to civil rights.
Since the horrific attacks on September 11, dozens of retaliatory
hate crimes have been directed at members of the Arab-American community,
including assaults, arson, threatening communications and two possibly-and
I say “possibly”-ethnically motivated murders. Many of these
criminal acts have been directed at Muslim houses of worship and at
Muslim community centers.
I want to make it very clear: Vigilante attacks and threats against
Arab-Americans will not be tolerated. We are all saddened by the recent
acts of terrorism against our nation. Such acts of retaliation violate
federal law and, more particularly, run counter to the very principles
of equality and freedom upon which our nation is founded. The FBI
and the Department of Justice are committed to aggressively investigating
and prosecuting violations of the federal hate crime laws. We, to
date, have initiated 40 hate crimes investigations, involving reported
attacks on Arab American citizens and institutions. And we are working
with the Department of Justice to review other incidents to see if
federal violations have taken place. I might also add that the FBI
is reaching out to leaders of the Arab American community in each
of our 56 field offices across the country.
Excerpt of News Conference Remarks
of FBI Director Robert Mueller, September 17, 2001
Today we seek to meet the challenge of terrorism
with the same careful regard for the Constitutional rights of Americans
and respect for all human beings. Just as American rights and freedoms
have been preserved throughout previous law enforcement campaigns,
they must be preserved throughout this war on terrorism.
This Justice Department will never waiver in our
defense of the Constitution nor relent our defense of civil rights.
* * *
Mr. Chairman, I also want to report to you on the
status of the DOJ’s activities regarding protecting the civil
rights of all Americans. Since September 11, the Civil Rights Division,
working closely with the United States Attorneys and the FBI, has
opened over 60 investigations into acts involving force or threats
of force committed in retaliation for the events of September 11.
All of these acts include killings, assaults, the destruction or attempted
destruction of businesses, attacks on mosques and worshipers and death
threats.
The Department of Justice is firmly committed to pursuing these
misguided wrongdoers vigorously. The Civil Rights Division and FBI
officials have met with leaders of the Arab American, Muslim and Sikh
communities and we have established in the Civil Rights Division an
initiative to combat post-terrorism discrimination to ensure that
all allegations of violence or discrimination are addressed promptly
and effectively.
Let there be no mistake: the Department of Justice will not tolerate
acts of violence or discrimination against people in this country
based on their race, national origin or religion.
Excerpt of Testimony of Attorney General
John Ashcroft before the
Senate Committee on the Judiciary, September
25, 2001
It is testimony to the compassion and decency of
the American people that virtually simultaneously with learning of
the attacks of September 11, voices began to be raised cautioning
citizens not to turn their anger and outrage over the terrorist acts
against Arab-Americans and people of the Muslim faith. Americans overwhelmingly
heeded this message.
In many cases, individuals have reached out to Muslims and others
to reassure them that they are still welcome and valued members of
their communities. I spoke with old friends today in the Muslim and
Sikh community. They echoed what the vast majority of Americans understand.
The nation has suffered a grave loss. Those who would express their
anger through ethnically or religiously motived attacks would only
compound our loss.
As President Bush, FBI Director Mueller and I have said on numerous
occasions, vigilante attacks and threats against people of Arab, Middle
Eastern or South Asian descent, or against those who practice the
Islamic faith, will not be tolerated. Such senseless acts of brutality
violate federal law, and they run counter to the very principles of
equality and freedom upon which our nation is founded. They are un-American.
I am thankful to the representatives of the Arab-American, Muslim
and Sikh communities who have taken the time to share their ideas
and concerns with us here today. The Department of Justice is strongly
committed to investigating and prosecuting violators of the federal
hate crime laws.
We have established in the Civil Rights Division an initiative
to combat post-terrorism discrimination by ensuring that allegations
of violence or discrimination are addressed promptly and effectively.
Working in tandem, the Civil Rights Division, FBI, and U.S. Attorneys'
offices have opened over 170 hate crime investigations - cases involving
killings, shootings, death threats, assaults, and the destruction
of mosques. Two of the U.S. Attorneys involved in these prosecutions
are with us today.
