Despite repeated requests for calm from President Bush and top law enforcement officials, the number of hate crimesdirected at Arab Americans has almost doubled from a week ago, and the FBI has formally opened about 90 civil rightsinvestigations since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

In addition, local police and state agencies are handling hundreds of other hate-related cases, including slayings inSan Gabriel, Dallas and Mesa, Ariz., as well as numerous shootings, beatings and incidents in which individuals havebeen dragged from their cars.

Guests:

• Aniruddha Das, host of the Asia-Pacific forum on New York Pacifica station WBAI.
• Sin Yen Ling, staff attorney with the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, responsible forhandling the cases of racial bias attacks following since Sept 11.
• Salina Ali, member of SAYA, South Asian Youth Action. She is of Bangladeshi origin, now in the 12th gradeat Richmond Hill High School, Queens.