INS Detention of Arabs (FLASHPOINTS Interview of Attorney)

The only thing that will separate our time from the 1940s internment of Japanese American citizens is an educated and vocal population.  Speak up.  We're on a slippery slope and things are going to likely get worse.

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Ban Al-Wardi was interviewed on FLASHPOINTS today, discussing the INS arrests of hundreds of Muslims in Southern California.  Below is the portion of the website write-up from FLASHPOINTS.

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Leslie: a massive sweep, INS arrested hundreds of unsuspecting Muslims.. now w attorney, Ban Al-Wardi, with the LA chapter of the Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee.. hundreds of men and boys from Middle Eastern countries were arrested by federal immigration officials in Southern California this week when they complied with orders to appear at INS offices for a special registration program.. Ban saw 14 of her 20 clients arrested when she went with them to the registration.. Ban: these people are not being charged with any crime.. they all have expired visas.. but most of them already have green cards, work permits, travel permits.. being mixed with the general jail population.. hosed down.. forced to sleep on the floor, served pork.. Ban: LA was just the first.. we've been getting reports from all over the country.. Leslie: like the internment of the Japanese during WWII.. Ban: yes, that was declared unconstitutional.. a voluntary program.. if they were terrorists or criminals they would not have gone to the INS.. spreading all over the country.. Ban: although everyone understands the need to protect the nation against terrorist attacks, the government's recent action went too far.. I saw a lot of teenagers coming in getting arrested.. pulled one 16 year old sobbing from his mother's arms.. Ban: all of our fundamental civil rights have been violated by these actions.. I don't know how far this is going to go before people start speaking up.. this is a very dangerous precedent we are setting.. what's to stop Americans from being treated like this when they travel overseas?..

FLASHPOINTS WEBSITE:

http://www.flashpoints.net/

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"First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist, so I said nothing. Then they came for the Social Democrats, but I was not a Social Democrat, so I did nothing. Then came the trade unionists, but I was not a trade unionist. And then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew, so I did little. Then when they came for me, there was no one left to stand up for me."  -- Pastor Martin Niemöller