The events of September 11, 2001 reverberated through many Arab American communities across the country in ways that other Americans have not experienced. During the period directly following the attacks, people of Arab descent were harassed; churches and mosques were damaged, and in a few instances people were physically attacked, shot, or killed. In cities and towns with high concentrations of Arab Americans, public hostility and suspicion grew due to outside pressures. Utilizing interview data from a current national study of relations between Arab American communities and law enforcement, we explore issues of victimization, the perceived prevalence of hate and bias crimes among immigrants of Arab descent and law enforcement, and community-level feelings of vulnerability and fear in a post-September 11 environment. In addition, we examine the degree to which federal policies, media attention and law enforcement practices have led to a sense of community-wide victimization, which we label as a type of cultural trauma. Bearing the brunt of enforcement actions, Arab American communities are grappling with the insecurity and fear that has come from increased scrutiny in the name of security for others.
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