Scapegoats of September 11th: Hate Crimes & State Crimes in the War on Terror

Preface

PREFACE S eptember 11, 2001, is a date that will continue to resonate sharply into the foreseeable future. Still, that day in history is not a static reminder of past atrocities. On the contrary, 9/11 is a dynamic emotional signifier of the present and beyond, capable of evoking not only intense grief but also anxiety, fear, and anger. Regrettably, in post9 /11 America, much of that outrage has been targeted at innocent persons not involved in the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon or the Twin Towers. In a word, those people have become the scapegoats of September 11. This book takes on the uneasy task of sorting out the various manifestations of displaced aggression, most notably hate crimes along with state crimes that have become embarrassing hallmarks of the war on terror at home and abroad. In so many ways, this project represents a continuation of my research on crime, punishment, and human rights, particularly as informed by race and ethnicity. On September 11, 2001, I had already completed the writing for my book Detained: Immigration Laws and the Expanding I.N.S. Jail Complex (2002, Temple University Press). Appropriately, I added an epilogue to that volume describing the challenges facing human rights in the aftermath of 9/11; nevertheless, the thrust of my conclusions has remained largely unchanged. In the days, weeks, months, and even years ix 00-R3894-FM 7/28/06 12:46 PM Page ix following the attacks, shameful actions by some Americans and the government merely confirmed my observation that another round of social control was put into motion, aimed largely at so-called racial, ethnic, and religious “outsiders.” Rather than simply offering a recent chronology of those developments since September 11, this book delves into the meaning of scapegoating in ways that reveal society’s ancient punitive tendencies . In doing so, however, it also sheds an optimistic light on the potential for an emerging awareness of human rights. Due to the nature of writing, authors often work in isolation while simultaneously remaining deeply connected to the world around them. This work is no exception. Over the past few years, I have benefited from the help and support of a long list of assistants and colleagues. At Rutgers University, I acknowledge my research assistants, Daanish Faruqi, Helay Salam, Hosay Salam, Frank Carle, Nicolle DeLuca, and Igor Draskovic, as well as the dedicated staff at the University’s libraries. I also thank my colleagues Professors Lennox Hinds and Albert Roberts, and all members of the Criminal Justice Program Committee, along with Deans Arnold Hyndman, Holly Smith, and Ed Rhodes. Portions of this book were written while in residency as a visiting fellow at the Centre for the Study of Human Rights, London School of Economics . Many colleagues there helped me navigate uncharted waters, most notably Conor Gearty and Stan Cohen, along with Joy Whyte, Harriet Gallagher, Andrew Puddephatt, Helen Wildbore, Margot Salomon, and Tim Newburn, director of the Mannheim Centre for Criminology at the LSE. In Paris, where I was fortunate to have a flat conducive to reading and writing, I would like to thank Elisabeth Ban and Nick Stevens, as well as all the nice people in the 18th arrondissement. In terms of converting a manuscript into a book, I have benefited tremendously from the talented staff at Rutgers University Press: Director Marlie Wasserman, Associate Editor Adi Hovav, Production Editor Nicole L. Manganaro, and Prepress Director Marilyn Campbell. Of course, this work became much more readable due to the copyediting of Anne Schneider. Finally, I wish to thank Ray Michalowski, series editor of Critical Issues in Crime and Society at RUP along with Hal Pepinsky who also reviewed the entire manuscript, offering key insights and comments. Michael Welch hoboken, new jersey x PREFACE 00-R3894-FM 7/28/06 12:46 PM Page x Scapegoats of SEPTEMBER 11TH 00-R3894-FM 7/28/06 12:46 PM Page 1 00-R3894-FM 7/28/06 12:46 PM Page 2 ...