Lessons Learned and Bridges Built

Despite the positive reports in the media about Angelenos embracing their Arab-American and Muslim neighbors, there has also been a rise in hate crimes aimed at these and other related groups since the September 11 terrorist attack. In collaboration with the Japanese American National Museum, KPCC 89.3 FM will broadcast live a Town Hall Meeting to discuss these and other related issues on Thursday, Oct. 11 from 7 to 9 p.m., hosted by Kitty Felde on Talk of the City. The Town Hall Meeting will be re-broadcast on Friday, October 12 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. The event is open to the public free of charge.

The Town Hall Meeting will feature guests from a variety of backgrounds within the Los Angeles area including Dr. Maher Hathout from the Muslim Public Affairs Council and FBI special agent Matthew McLaughlin. Assistant Sheriff Larry Walde, who oversees Los Angeles field operations, including the racial profiling task force, will also participate along with members of the task force.

Participants will examine the racial tensions within the Japanese American community in Los Angeles during World War II. Voices of community leaders who built bridges between the Korean and African American communities after the 1992 civil unrest will also be heard. In addition, the FBI and ACLU will discuss how citizens can balance the need for security with civil liberties. Questions the meeting may raise include: What lessons have we learned? What mistakes should we avoid?

KPCC and the Japanese American National Museum view the Town Hall Meeting as an opportunity to build bridges—not only between the Arab-American and Muslim communities and the rest of Southern California—but also among the other diverse communities of Los Angeles.

The Town Hall Meeting will be held at the Japanese American National Museum, located at 369 E. First Street, in the Little Tokyo district of Downtown. There are limited spaces available to attend the event and RSVPs are necessary. Call 213-625-0414, ext. 2233.