Community Relations Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the Community Relations Service (CRS) will participate in a post-September 11 Civil Rights Panel at the "Civil Rights in a Time of Crisis" Forum jointly sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Torrance and the Torrance Human Relations Forum in Torrance, California. The Forum will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Torrance Library, 3301 Torrance Boulevard, Torrance, California.

This panel is one of an ongoing series of panels on community issues sponsored by the Torrance Human Relations Forum.

"CRS is working with community organizations and law enforcement to facilitate communication, to reduce community tensions from law enforcement activities, and to prevent or combat terrorism," said CRS Western Regional Director Ronald Wakabayashi.

In the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, CRS was requested by the Torrance Human Relations Forum to participate in a community panel discussion. CRS will provide an overview of its activities with local officials and community agencies to help them address conflicts associated with alleged hate activities and discrimination against Arab Americans, and other affected communities. Other participants on the panel include representatives from the FBI, the Office of U.S. Representative Jane Harman, and the League of Women Voters.

For more information about the Community Relations Service, a unique racial conflict resolution and prevention agency of the U.S. Department of Justice, please see its web site at: www.usdoj.gov/CRS.

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