Panel and students agree Sept. 11 attacks have damaged attitudes toward immigrants

Minorities have suffered from the effects of the recession and the war on terrorism, professors and the director of the Islamic Center of Tucson said during a panel discussion Tuesday.

Arturo Gonzalez, assistant professor of Mexican-American studies, said the recession following the attacks has hit minority population in America the most.

He pointed out that although unemployment has dropped among white communities, it has grown in minority communities since September.

Gonzalez said that before the attacks unemployment among Hispanic workers was at 6.5 percent, and it grew to 7.9 percent by December.

He said unemployment among blacks had grown from 9 percent to 10.2 because of a slowdown in the tourist industry, which employs many minorities.

He also pointed out the build up of security along the U.S.-Mexico border disrupts the cycle that many immigrant workers follow between the United States and Mexico to find work.

He said many immigrants who came here to work are not returning for fear of being caught at the border or even shot and killed by border patrol.

Jean Braucher, law professor and president of the American Civil Liberties Union Arizona chapter, said that before the attacks the United States was prepared to give amnesty to undocumented Mexican workers living in America, a topic not addressed since the attacks.

John Garcia, a political science professor, said members of the Hispanic community are being mistaken for people of Middle Eastern descent and stopped by authorities.

Mamadou Baro, an anthropology assistant professor, said that the war on terrorism impacts an already troubled situation in Africa.

"AIDS is a huge problem in Africa and after September 11 there has been less of an emphasis on AIDS," he said. "Fewer students are allowed to go to the U.S. to study, and less emphasis on education means less development in Africa."

Baro also warned that the United States needs to understand that some regimes will use the excuse of fighting terrorism to promote their own agendas or to justify abuses of their power.

Imam Omar Shahin, director of the Islamic Center of Tucson, said the Islamic religion has been on trial since the war on terrorism began.

"When a non-Muslim murders someone, religion is not a question. But when a Muslim murders someone Islam is on trial," he said. "Six minutes after the attack people said it was Muslim terrorists.

"It took them six years to find (Timothy) McVeigh guilty. Osama bin Laden represents himself, not the 1.5 billion Muslims of the world."

Shahin said that he was the only Muslim leader contracted with the Department of Corrections to visit Muslims in prison, and he said that contract was terminated after Sept. 11.

Reactions from UA students seem to acknowledge that minorities have been treated unfairly since Sept. 11.

"Minorities are affected the most, but have the least amount of representation since they are minorities," said Michael Wilfong, a political science junior.

David Pratte, an MIS senior, agreed, saying he thinks people have made more racist comments since the attacks.

Political science freshman Debra Brown said the tone toward minorities is reminiscent of the Red Scare - when suspected communists were interrogated by the U.S. government.

"It feels like the Red Scare all over again," she said.