Video- Muslim Americans suffer bias

As America marks the 10th-year anniversary of 9/11, there is another push in the United States to reduce biased feelings towards Muslims in America. The latest effort started last week in Detroit, home of the largest collective Arabic population in the United States. The campaign seeks to show the service of Muslims. The effort comes as a new poll reveals that 3 out of every four Americans believe Muslims are singled out unfairly for acts of bias and suspicion. The 75% percent response is only down 15% from the 90% of Americans who felt the same way right after the 9/11 attacks. Immigration Advocate and Law Professor Ramzi Kassem says public relations campaigns are not enough to undue damage done by the government’s public policy.
And those investigations have tested trust of the Muslim community. Another recent poll by Pew Research revealed that more than half of Muslim Americans polled said government anti-terrorism policies single them out for increased surveillance and monitoring, and many report increased cases of name-calling, threats and harassment by airport security, law enforcement officers and others.

Since the 9/11 attacks there have been tens of thousands of documented acts of bias against Muslim Americans. Those acts run the scale from minor incidents of name calling to more violent acts
including murder. Critics of US domestic policy say that in the last ten years since the attacks, America has tried to have it both ways… promoting sensitivity programs like this one while actively engaging in other acts that continue to foster distrust”

Those critics point to the ongoing hearings in Washington, that are focusing on radical Islam in America. They say such hearings blur the public perception of Muslims here in the U.S. and around the world.

The campaign is expected to be broadcast and hit billboards nationwide in the coming week. But as Americans reflect on the events of 9/11 a decade later, many wonder if acting on old prejudices will either stop or actually create new tragedies in the future.