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Fear Sweeps Los Angeles
By Sahar Kassaimah
LOS ANGELES, Sept 12 (IslamOnline) - After the horrible attacks Tuesday morning in New York and Washington D.C., U.S. media and intelligence official sources are pointing fingers at Muslims, especially Osama bin Laden, resulting in threat letters, phone calls and e-mails to Islamic institutions in California.
Muslim and Arab groups in Los Angeles received threatening phone calls Tuesday in response to the attacks against American targets.
However, no attacks have occurred against Muslims or Arab Americans in Los Angeles as of yet, but many people are staying out of public areas due to fear, especially those who wear Islamic attire. "It is really so sad," said Rana, 18, who wears a hijab, or headscarf. "As I feel sorry for the victims who were attacked yesterday, I feel sorry to be threatened by others whom I share them their pains and sadness."
"Why should I feel afraid and threatened every time someone attacks an American target? Why should I hide myself and stay at home for a crime I didn't commit?
"We are Americans and we live in this country. We denounce these inhuman crimes and feel so sorry for the innocent people who were attacked.
"So, why should some people revenge from us? How could we feel that America is our home if we don't feel safe to walk in streets because we are Muslims?"
Los Angeles police patrols surrounded the IslamicCcenter of South California and other mosques in order to protect Muslim families and children from harassment and hate attacks. They also surrounded people inside the mosques during prayer times.
In the meantime, many Islamic schools have been shut down as many Islamic centers have shut their web sites for the immediate future, after receiving threatening emails and letters.
Islamic organizations in Los Angeles have asked the American media to be careful not to point quick fingers at Muslims, which may cause innocent people to be targeted and attacked by angry people.
However, they also declared that Muslims in this country are Americans, and that they belong to this country like any other citizens, asking why they should live under threat whenever any attack occurs against American targets.
They also explained and declared that even if Palestinian people in Jerusalem are celebrating the attack against the U.S., American Muslims have denounced it and have expressed their sorrow for the innocent civilians who were attacked.
Leaders of national American Muslim groups sent a letter on Tuesday to U.S. President George W. Bush asking him to use his address to unify the nation in the face of Tuesday's attacks.
"American Muslims, who unequivocally condemned today terrorist attacks on our nation, call on you to alert fellow citizens to the fact that now is a time for all of us to stand together in the face of this heinous crime. It is not the time for speculative accusations and stereotypical generalizations that can only serve to harm the innocent and to endanger our society and its civil liberties," said the letter.
Signatories to the letter included the Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), Islamic Society of North American (ISNA), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), American Muslim Council (AMC), American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ), American Muslim Alliance (AMA) and the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA).
Fear swept through Los Angeles as a result of the attacks as many thousands of people abandoned work and stayed at home where they felt safer.
"I'm too scared to be here this morning," conceded Rachel Marin, 31, as she left her job in the City National Bank Building, one of an estimated 200,000 workers who evacuated downtown before noon.
Los Angeles is seen as an expected candidate for possible attack. Within hours of the horrible tragedy, the city went into immediate lockdown. Buildings were closed, downtown streets were emptied and people were sent to areas providing emergency provisions and shelter.
Meanwhile, airports, many government buildings, courts and office towers closed under federal mandate.
San Fernando Valley shopping malls closed in Woodland Hills, Sherman Oaks and Northridge.
Stores were crowded with customers stocking up on bottled water, toilet paper, batteries and canned food.
The State Emergency Council convened yesterday as Governor Gray Davis requested heightened security at all state buildings. Nevertheless, some people fled the city for the desert near Palm Springs looking for a safer place to spend the coming days.
Disneyland announced it would open for business after officials confirmed that they see no danger to visitors. In addition, many schools and businesses refused to close down today, confirming their refusal of giving terrorists the feeling of victory.
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