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American Muslims decry government policies

By: Mohamed Ali

CALIFORNIA: Hundreds of people assembled at a town hall meeting to protest against what they called the unfair targeting of Muslims by the Department of Homeland Security.

The meeting was held on Monday by the Southern California Civil Rights Coalition, a group of community, interfaith and civil rights groups, at the Holiday Inn Select in La Mirada.

Also an official from the FBI was among the attendees.

Matt McLaughlin, special projects coordinator for the Los Angeles County Office of the FBI, said that the FBI is trying to work with the Muslim community.

“The government is not perfect because we're made up of people. Mistakes can occur and we try to correct them,” McLaughlin said.

He said: “If there is a policy that isn't well-liked in the community, it's important that the community speak out and bring a change that's appropriate.”

“We're giving it the very best we can to bring dignity and respect. By the same token we have a very difficult job to protect you.”

Other complaints were also raised concerning the no-fly policies of the Department of Homeland Security.

Executive director for the Southern California Council on American-Islamic Relations Hussam Ayloush said: “Thousands of Muslims have been placed on a no-fly list, go through harassment every time they fly and many are denied the right to fly.”

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