|
Detroit Free Press – January 24, 2008
Hamtramck passes ordinance against profiling
BY CECIL ANGEL
The Hamtramck City Council has passed an ordinance that forbids police and other city employees from profiling and discriminating against people based on their race, religion and appearance and from asking about a person's immigration status.
It is the latest in a string of changes the city has made over the years as it has adapted to a wave of immigration that made what was once an overwhelmingly Polish enclave one of the most ethnically diverse communities in the state.
"We're fortunate to have an influx of immigrants," said Robert Zwolak, a former city councilman and a supporter of the ordinance. "Anything we can do to sustain and maintain that attraction for Hamtramck is going to be a win-win situation."
The Community-Participation In Local Government and Local Law Enforcement Ordinance passed today (Jan 24, 2008) on a 5-1 vote.
The Detroit-based group Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength lobbied city officials to pass the ordinance because of concerns that immigrants who are victims of crime or witnesses would avoid the police because of their illegal status. It also would curb profiling based on national origin, sexual orientation, manner of dress and physical characteristics.
The City of Detroit has a similar ordinance, but what makes Hamtramck's unique is the city's racial and ethnic makeup.
According to the 2000 U.S. census, at least 41.1% of the city's population of 22,976 people was foreign-born and less than half of all residents speak English at home. The 2006 estimate by the census shows the population at 21,615, but the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments estimates the population jumped to 25,849 by this year.
The 2.1-square-mile city is a blend of immigrants from Poland, Bosnia, Bangladesh, Yemen and other countries who are neighbors with U.S.-born whites, African Americans and Asians.
Some smaller cities around the nation, such as Hazelton, Pa., have passed laws to crack down on illegal immigrant workers. But Hamtramck, a city established by Polish immigration, is learning to embrace the recent immigrants who have been key to its revival.
City Councilwoman Cathie Gordon said that she was against the ordinance originally. "I never experienced this, and maybe I was being a little narrow-minded," she said. This amounts to a goodwill ordinance, she said.
Police Chief James Doyle said he supports the ordinance because he didn't want people who are being abused or victimized to not seek help.
The lone dissenting council member, Alan Shulgon, said he believed the council was acting rash and that the city could face legal problems.
Hamtramck City Attorney James P. Allen Sr. said the ordinance doesn't tie the hands of police or interfere with federal immigration policy. Police can still ask about immigration status if they have probable cause.
The ordinance also requires the city to provide diversity training every year. An employee who violates the ordinance could lose his or her job depending on the nature of the offense, Allen said.
Bill Meyer, the chairman of the city Human Relations Commission, said, "This is an ordinance that's supposed to protect citizens, regular citizens -- not criminals." He said the law will make the city more appealing.
The city's image has taken a beating. There was a furor when a mosque wanted the city's permission to broadcast the call to prayer from outdoor speakers. For several years, the U. S. Justice Department monitored elections after voters who were legal immigrants from Bangladesh and the Middle East had their citizenship challenged at the polls.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080124/NEWS02/801240388
The Patriot-News - January 26, 2008
Muslim employees get more time for prayers
BY MARY WARNER
Somali immigrants who quit work at Arnold Logistics in Hampden Twp. because of a "misunderstanding" are back on the job, with accommodation for their daily prayers, a Muslim advocacy group says.
The warehouse and distribution services company has agreed to provide a 15-minute break for Muslim prayer, according to the Pennsylvania office of the Council on American Islamic Relations.
CAIR said 16 machine operators walked off their jobs on Jan. 9 "after a misunderstanding over a new policy which limited personal breaks for all employees to five minutes."
Madina Hasson of Mechanicsburg, a nurse who volunteers as a community organizer among midstate Somali immigrants, contacted Justin Peyton, director of civil rights for CAIR in Philadelphia.
They met Jan. 11 with Amy Rafferty, human resources director for Arnold Logistics, to explain that five minutes was too short for the daily prayers required of Muslims.
The workers had been unable to make their case because of a "language barrier," Peyton said Friday.
He said Rafferty "graciously listened" and relayed the workers' concerns to senior managers, who offered this week to rehire all 16 and provide them time each day for prayer.
About half the employees returned to Arnold. The rest had found other work, Peyton said….
http://www.pennlive.com/business/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/business/1201314300138540.xml&coll=1
Miami Herald - January 25, 2008
Student claims Muslim slur by teacher
at Jacksonville-area school
ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- A 16-year-old Muslim student said one of her teachers told a class that all Muslims are terrorists waging war against Americans and Christians, her father said Friday.
Darlene Mahla, a spokeswoman for the Clay County School District near Jacksonville, said an investigation is continuing and no decisions were expected this week on whether the Orange Park High School teacher, whose name has not been released, will face any disciplinary action.
"We are looking into whether what the student said he said is true," Mahla said.
Ferzani Rajpoot was taking a night adult education class in psychology in an attempt to graduate from high school early, said her father, Mohammed Shadid. He said the discussion began with the teacher talking about the presidential campaign and saying his favorite candidate would keep Muslim terrorists out of the U.S.
Shadid said his daughter told the teacher that she was Muslim and asked if he thought she was a terrorist. Shadid said the teacher did not reply, but turned the discussion to the meaning of the word jihad as "holy war."
Rajpoot said the more common meaning was a personal or spiritual struggle, Shadid said. The family has Pakistani heritage and Rajpoot was born in the U.S.
Shadid said the family asked the Council on American-Islamic Relations to deal with the incident and only wants to make sure it never happens again. He said he doesn't want the teacher fired, but believes he should be required to take a religious sensitivity class.
"I like the teacher and respect him, but he needs to be educated," Shadid said………
http://www.miamiherald.com/775/story/393650.html
|
