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Racism Rise in Texas

By Garrett Godwin

The tide of racism has been rising with the Jena Six, Michael Richards, Mel Gibson, Dog, the Bounty Hunter, Don Imus, and now in the state of Texas. Emails and cartoons were found last week from the Harris County Sheriff's department. While it may have been harmless jokes to some, it is still an attack of race and religion against Muslims and Hispanics.

"No one should make fun of other people's beliefs", said Dr. Aziz Siddiqui with the Islamic Society of Greater Houston. "I don't make fun of any other religion. I don't want anyone to make fun of our religion."

The email from the top commander of the Harris County Sheriff's Department stated that he is "taking a poke back at the Muslims". Over 250,000 Muslims live in Harris County, and they, according to Siddiqui, are "good Americans".

Other emails include the drug arrest of "hard working Mexicans who do jobs Americans won't do. Let's give them more welfare money and raise your taxes to fund their free ride."

The community was protesting outside the department, as businessman Azim Zakaria and his brother sued the sheriff's office for civil rights violations. "My trust and confidence in the sheriff's department is very low now" he said.

There has been no word from the sheriff. "It is very much concern in the community that he is silent on this" answered Houston council member MJ Khan.