Letters to the editor: 08/24/06
August 24, 2006
12:00 AM
Racial profiling doesn't keep us safe from terrorists
The
writer of the Aug. 21 letter "Go
for It"
assumes that racial profiling has been "proven successful in
stopping terror threats," is necessary for keeping the writer's
family and neighbors safe, and that anyone against it has something
to hide or is selfish.
Tell
that to Getu Tewolde, one neighbor who was arrested as a terrorist
here in 2002 without any evidence. After a yearlong campaign by more
of our neighbors, who have nothing to hide in their unselfish outcry
against racism, Getu was released and cleared of the terrorism
charges.
In
the last year newspapers have been full of stories of more of our
neighbors of color who have been released after being held since 9/11
without charges because the government admits they were not criminals
but victims of roundups. Taking away your neighbors' rights based on
race has nothing to do with making anyone safer and everything to do
with racist anxieties whipped up by sensational rhetoric and
headlines.
Racism
hasn't worked in the "war on crime" and the "war on
drugs," and it's not working in the "war on terror."
Profiling and shakedowns feed into racism and demagoguery; they have
nothing to do with protecting anyone from crime, drugs or terrorism,
and definitely have nothing to do with spreading freedom and
democracy.
If
you don't speak out when they come after your neighbors, there will
be no one left to speak out when they come after you.
S.
SALEH WAZIRUDDIN
Wilkinsburg
Wilkinsburg
The
writer is chair of the Anti- Discrimination Committee
of the Islamic Council of Greater Pittsburgh.
of the Islamic Council of Greater Pittsburgh.
