Chicago Arab American Youth To Push Back Against Racial Profiling
Progress Illinois
Youth organizers with the Arab American Action Network are set to push back against racial profiling Thursday afternoon.
The group will deliver a letter to Michael J. Anderson, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Division of the FBI, “demand[ing] an end to the FBI Chicago Division’s policies of racial profiling, including the use of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) and undercover informants, and the unveiling of the Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) program.”
The letter is based on findings from a survey of 450 Arab and Muslim residents in the Chicagoland area. One of 10 people surveyed say they have been visited by the FBI and 85 percent of the visits included questioning about their religion, political beliefs, immigration status or national origin.
“We have known our whole lives that the FBI especially harasses our people and community,” said Sobhiya Salem, a leading youth organizer with the AAAN. “But now we have data from our survey and other research that will strengthen our demand that this racial profiling end immediately.”
The letter is signed by partner organizations including American Friends Service Committee, Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Assata’s Daughters, Korean American Resource and Cultural Center and Chicago Desi Youth Rising.
The press conference following the letter delivery can be viewed live on CAN TV27 or their livestream at 4:45 p.m.
Source: progressillinois.com