Media Advisory: U.S. Department of Justice Partners with Linn County and Cedar Rapids Law Enforcement and Community Agencies to Host Forum: Protecting Arab, Muslim, Sikh, and South Asian Communities and the Community Response to Hate Crimes

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa is joining with the Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service, the Iowa Department of Human Rights, the Anti-Defamation League, the Linn County Attorney’s and Sheriff’s Offices, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission to host a forum designed to identify and address key issues related to reporting, investigating, prosecuting and preventing hate crimes against Arab, Muslim, Sikh, and South Asian Communities. The forum is designed to build collaboration among key partners in an effort to prevent and respond to bias incidents and hate crimes.

U.S. Attorney Kevin W. Techau will be present and joined by Darryck Dean, a DOJ Conciliation Specialist with the Community Relations Service located in Kansas City.

Mr. Dean was actively involved in community conciliation efforts following the incidents in Ferguson, Mo. A flyer announcing the forum is attached.

Event Details

When: Monday, January 30, 2017

Where: Cedar Rapids Public Library, Whipple Auditorium, 450 5^th Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, IA

Time: Starts at 1:00 p.m., ends at 4:00 p.m.

This is a “pen and pad” opportunity for the press. Photography permitted. A press release will be provided and interview opportunities will be available.

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