muslim americans have been part of the american scene since the nation founding. cedar rapids, iowa, is home to one of the oldest mosques in america. the muslim community is like the rest of us. muslims serve our nations as doors, lawyers, teachers, business owners, cab drivers and even members of the congress. muslim americans live in every community in america and they are our neighbors, in short, they are us. every american including muslim americans suffered on 9/11. 29 muslim died at the world trade center. three died in hijacked airplanes united flight 175 and american flight 11. muslims stood with the rest of the america united in grief and in our resolve to protect america. along with americans of all faiths, muslim americans rushed into save and rescue victims of al qaeda's terrorism. let me close with a true story, but remember it's only one of american stories that could be told. muhammed hamdani was a 23-year-old paramedic, a new york city police cadet and muslim american. he was one of those brave first responders who tragically lost his life in 9/11 t

bias targeting muslim, arab, sikh and asian-americans were before 9/11. some are deadly. late last summer a new york taxi driver was stabbed and almost died after a passenger asked him whether he was a muslim. just earlier this year, two elderly sikh men were gunned down while taking an afternoon stroll in their neighborhood in northern california. killing one and critically injuring the other. employment discrimination complaints are at an all time high with muslim bias based complaints comprising 25%. 25% of complaints received by the eeoc from 2008 to 2009 while muslims comprise only 1 to 2% of the entire population. opposition to mosque construction is also on the rise and getting uglier. in muslim americans, sikh and south asian parents are more concerned than ever about their children. and one especially egregious case, a muslim high school student in stanton island was subjected to a harrowing ordeal in which he was frequently labeled a terrorist, punched in the groin, and spat on by fellow teenagers. sometimes his mother would ca

some of these activities result in targeting the american muslim community. to make matters worse, some leaders as senator byrd and pointed out have sought divisiveness against american muslims. to fan the flames of hate against those with different traditions runs contrary to our american dog use. our nation was founded in large part on the importance of religion -- religious freedom. i welcome the renewed focus by some in our charter, the constitution of the united states. i remind everybody that the constitution is not a menu with options to choose based on the political winds of the moment. instead it is a constitution that sets forth freedoms and protections for all of us. the first amendment and are millerites preserves all of our other rice. guaranteeing a free press, and the free exercise of religion. it ensures an informed electorate the freedom to worship god as we choose or not to, our choice. it guarantees diversity. you guarantee diversity and protect the idea of diversity, you guarantee democracy. throughout the history of the world, religious mi

muslim americans have been part of the american scene since the nation founding. cedar rapids, iowa, is home to one of the oldest mosques in america. the muslim community is like the rest of us. muslims serve our nations as doctors, lawyers, teachers, business owners, cab drivers and even members of the congress. muslim americans live in every community in america and they are our neighbors, in short, they are us. every american including muslim americans suffered on 9/11. 29 muslim died at the world trade center. three died in hijacked airplanes united flight 175 and american flight 11. muslims stood with the rest of the america united in grief and in our resolve to protect america. along with americans of all faiths, muslim americans rushed into save and rescue victims of al qaeda's terrorism. let me close with a true story, but remember it's only one of american stories that could be told. muhammed hamdani was a 23-year-old paramedic, a new york city police cadet and muslim american. he was one of those brave first responders who tragically lost his life in 9/11

he never said muslim americans. also, we need to point out that in 2007, and i won't say people by name because i do respect my colleagues, itwas said in reference in a political article, too many mosques are in this country, there are too many people sympathetic to radical islam. nothing reference to cooperation. in this committee hearing on february 9, 2011, it was said in this hearing we've got to focus on those people who harm us. it's the islamic extremists. these are dangerous ings. now, i also want to point out a reference that wasn't talked about in this hearing, i asked michael leader, the national counter terrorism center director, i asked him specifically, what percentage of the people being looked at by your agency for domestic terror threats were muslims? his answer for the record, it is absolutely tiny, a my minute percentage of muslim population that is looked at. finally mr. chairman, i would like to ask my sheriff for the record because the whole cause of this hearing was to say there was a lack of

loyal i think a lot of people wonder about this how do you stay loyal to your muslim faith and also immerse yourself in american culture. i don't see it as a problem at all these are not two mutually exclusive labels i can be a muslim and i can be an american i don't understand why they have to be in two separate category certainly they're christian americans and their people their black american that's what america is about this is why i love this country so much is because if i were you know i got into the american dream i'll tell you i'm as cheesy as it gets and i get choked at the star-spangled banner q this is a country i believe in wholeheartedly where these options and these opportunities are available but it's not a challenge for me to be patriotic and i relish what about this notion of you know homeland security secretary janet napolitano has said plots to attack america increasingly involve american residents and citizens. and she has alluded to the fact that many of them involve people loyal to al qaeda if not these hearings what's the answer seem i mean how do lawmakers deal with threats that are ce

accusations i've got cooperating with law enforcement that have been levied not to say against muslim americans but against activists in peace movements as well. are an effort to divide them and discredit human ford washington d.c. . hearings on muslim radicalization have now manifested they're happening as we speak so it's no longer a question of will this divide communities it's already doing just that and while representative peter king may try to argue that this is a real threat of the opposition is simply too politically correct to bring up perhaps he and his supporters are the ones that are too blinded to confront this country's past the atrocities that it's committed against its own citizens when marginalizing certain groups to acknowledge that it's not just muslims they kill american citizens here to discuss it with me ours said giuliani reporter and blogger for think progress and attorney jordan secular director of policy at the american center for law and justice department thank you both for being here today . is this is this the new form of mccarthyism is this the new red scare that

america among american muslims. in fact, it is our opinion that if you look into the american- muslim community's response, we have done a lot, but we have much more to do. we will call on peter king and others to say, "why not be a constructive partner in the war against terror and to recognize that the number of muslims in america in march will double in the next few decades." we are here to stay as a community. fear and hate-speech will not make the problem any better. on behalf of the council, we remain committed to our religion, to our rights as americans, and our faithful responsibility to further peace and justice in our society. thank you. >> thank you very much. we have two speakers who arrived late. welcome to the famous d.c. traffic. their names are on the speaker best we gave alps before the press conference. the first is with the northern virginia at muslim city coalition. >> good morning. my name is uddinahhed. i am representing the va muslim corporation. our goal is to increase civic awareness in the m

he never said muslim americans. also, we need to point out that in 2007 and i won't say people by name because i do respect my colleagues, it was said in reference in a political article, too many mosques are in this country, there are too many people sympathetic to radical islam. nothing reference to cooperation. in this committee hearing on february 9, 2011, it was said in this hearing we've got to focus on those people who harm us. it's the islamic extremists. these are dangerous things. now, i also want to point out a reference that wasn't talked about in this hearing, i asked michael leader, the national counter terrorism center director, i asked him specifically, what percentage of the people being looked at by your agency for domestic terror threats were slims? his answer for threcord, it is absolutely tiny, a my minute percentage of muslim population that is looked at. finay mr. chairman, i would like to ask my sheriff for the record because the whole cause of this hearing was to say there was a lack of coop

. >> targeting of the muslim american community for the actions of a few is unjust. >> a very controversial debate today, lawmakers wanting to know are many american muslims looking the other way as terror groups do their recruiting in the united states. we have team coverage. tracy has local reaction to today's hearing but we begin with steve handlesman with a very fiery debate on capitol hill. >> reporter: thanks. good evening. on capitol hill it was definitely fiery, for several hours this house hearing called by new york republican peter king. he insists his goal was to prevent more terrorism in america not to question the patriotism of american muslims. the main point of the hearing was not controversial. >> that homegrown radicalization is part of al qaeda's strategy to continue attacking the united states. >> reporter: no question. radicalized virginia born doctor nadal hassan killed 14 people at ft. hood. carlos bledsoe killed a private in little rock. his father says he was recruited at a tennessee mosque. >> he was manipulated and lied to. >> reporter: leaving for jihad in somalia

cause of getting the british out of ireland and we're seeing something very different in the muslim american community right now is that these are people who have them they don't have the kind of political voice in the political muscle right now not yet but the irish americans did and the debate in many ways looks very different than the over over irish terrorism did in the one nine hundred eighty s. and ninety's do you think that considering peter king's history and his past he should be in the position that he's in now to be chairing this homeland security committee well i think he probably shouldn't be in this business just because he's made such a circus of this whole thing he said very very offensive and i think it unfair things about american muslims he said there's too many mosques in the united states i don't know what you mean he is i think we've seen a very recent study that shows people who are more active in their mosques are actually more active in the american political system but i think one lesson that should be lost from peter king's relationship and support for the ira is t

the president's own national security advisers said al qaeda is attempting to radicalize the muslim american community. >> reporter: several democrats have written to king, urging him to cancel today's hearings, or at least broaden the conversation beyond the muslim community. but, fellow republicans are coming to his defense. >> this hearing is focused on an issue that we've got to be aware of. it is something that is facing us, and provides a threat to our people. >> reporter: but attorney general eric holder warns against alienating a group he says is already helping fight homegrown terror. >> tips that we have received, information that has been shared, has been critical to our efforts to disrupting plots that otherwise might have occurred. >> reporter: king insists muslims shouldn't feel threatened by the hearings, and if there's going to be any animosity, his opponents would be to blame. now, it appears so far that president obama will be keeping a distance from these hearings. when he has spoken about this in the past, he speaks of radicalization in general, betty, and does not single

aren't conservative muslims killed a lot of americans on nine eleven. but have also killed a lot of muslims in other parts of the world how does the muslim community best deal with its murderous conservatives. and do you think that peter king's so-called investigation is going to increase the power and the number of these. radical or conservative muslim first of all thank you very much for having me on your time and second i think that like all other americans muslim americans are very concerned about terrorism you mentioned before that muslim violent extremists such as al qaeda and bin laden have been largely killing a lot of the muslims around the world in addition to the to the horrific attacks on nine eleven and according to a study by west point eighty five percent of all of its victims are actually muslims so that's the first point the second point though it's going here to our shores is that muslim americans again are very very concerned about this issue and we're front line partners in the fight against terrorism according to a study that we've b

for it but if civilians are killed and injured heart attack is he going to morally blame the american muslim community for us perhaps peter king is lucky that no one ever held hearings on american ira sympathisers now there are a lot of questions as to whether this man considering his past should be heading the homeland security committee and about who we deem to be a word. the terrorist are one worth investigating versus those who we choose to support here this mess with me is matthew national security and there at the center for american progress thanks so much for being here tonight first of all walk us through exactly how fervent of a supporter of the ira i was thinking this past was you you just said you just do some quotes from him he was a real supporter a very vocal supporter but opponent of a british presence in ireland and a supporter of terrorism attacks as you just said attacks that killed civilians including american civilians so he's he's down with them he totally agrees with their cause will still say it to this day but you know can you imagine what if there have been hearings

muslim american doctor and journalist believes the u.s. is winning people witnessing people being singled out just for their religion. and it is a very disturbing time in america when we are singling out a group of people based on their religion or their ethnicity or their race which is certainly what is happening here. with your teen it holds for hearings to investigate the radicalization of american homegrown terrorism in regards to muslim americans i would i would agree that there is a problem in terms of terrorism and violence in this country but i would just ask why are muslim americans being singled out well we are becoming is someone i mean it's no country and nation who find it acceptable to put people on trial for their religion and to put people on trial for what they believe i'm an american citizen was born in this country and the america that i feel so strongly for and love would not allow a group of people based on their religion. turning now to some other stories making headlines across the globe are powerful earthquake rocki

and muslim americans are part of the solution here.they're not the problem. >> reporter: some experts say the matter is worth looking into. considering recent arrests like faisal shahzad who is accused of trying to bomb times square and army major nadal hasan, the accused fort hood shooter. >> name another religion where there's an international effort today where there could be an imam in yemen talking to a member of our military in texas. >> reporter: but critics insist muslim americans have also helped authorities crack several plots and they don't want these hearings to stop that trend. and some house republicans worry the hearings could distract congress from where it needs to be focused right now, on the economy. betty? >> all right, susan mcginnis in washington this morning. thank you, susan. >>> jared loughner is being arraigned in phoenix today on new federal charges from the january shooting rampage in tucson. six people were killed and 13 wounded, including congresswoman gabrielle giffords. the judge in the case is consideri

muslim. i'm a black american muslims.experiences coming to islam and excepting islam and looking at the immigrant community and the things they tried to influence me -- it was not correct, as well. i did not have my own independent thinking, i would be off on some wild, radical thoughts myself. host: we have to leave it there. thank you for calling in. by the way, this hearing is that 9:30 a.m. and it will be on c-span3 and it will also be on c-span radio, which is available on xm and in the washington- baltimore area, 90.1. you can watch it on any of those ways. john dingell will be the first to testify. keith ellison, democrat of minnesota, will be second. the fourth panel consists of m. zuhdi jasser and abdirizak bihi host -- bihi. next call, akron, ohio. what you think about this hearing? caller: i just wanted to say that we should definitely be doing things. we have terrorism in this country and abroad, but it does our country a disservice and makes us much less able to distinguish between muslims and terraced -- and

but as an american who gave everything for his fellow americans. >> reporter: but several witnesses testified that the u.s. muslim community is not doing enough to counterradic counterradicalism in its midst. family members described who you two american muslims were recruited by extremisextremists. the president said his faith is being hijacked by what he called a political movement promoting radicalization. >> we have a problem, where is that? it's a minority but there's an ideology that exifs in some masks, not all, not a majority, but some, and it's a significant number. >> reporter: religious groups mobilized throughout the hearing. in new york, interfaith supporters joined thousanded s muslims. a smaller counterrally alleged that muslims are linked to terrorism. and some in the faith community said congress should be looking into this. >> name another religion where there's an international coordinated effort today where there could be an imam in yemen talking to a member of our mill tale in texas to carry out an attack on troops or young people recruited. it's not happening. >> reporter: u.s. islamic advoc

oklahoma one could have very significant consequences in terms of the religious practice of american muslims here at home and that's why it does concern us. >> so i'll ask you to go a step further because the case we talked about here, the american muslim who raised the case in oklahoma, was objecting saying that it was shari'a law that had guided him in the execution of his will, how he would leave his property after death. can you give me other illustrations -- i mean, as i said, the stereotype of shari'a law is extreme and we wouldn't -- >> right. >> can you give me other illustrations of shari'a law in the life of an american muslim that you believe should be understood by most? >> so the one example you gave is a very good one in terms of the way some people may decide to write a will. may also entail decisions to get married and those who get married under religious law in terms of how they go about their life. things like the prayer, how they pray, when they pray, fasting, which is also a cornerstone of the faith. those are just some examples. >> as well donations. >> charity, charita

citizens within whatever countries we live in. >> reporter: with the straight path campaign, the muslim-american society is also trying to educate muslim young people about the tenets of their faith. imam mahdi bray draws from his own experience in the u.s. civil rights movement and talks about the importance of nonviolence within islam as well. >> nonviolence, the sanctity of life, is valued, and it's not the sanctity of muslim life. it's the sanctity of all life. >> reporter: the campaign is holding a series of meetings with youth and youth leaders across the country to discuss violence and islam, and also how to address injustice and discrimination in positive ways. bray says it's important not to dismiss the very real concerns and frustrations among young muslims. >> providing young people with skill sets and tools that embrace nonviolence but at the same time doesn't give them the feeling that they're just rolling over and that they're not really fighting back against some of the injustices that they see every day in their lives, both here and abroad. >> we don't separate islam from politic

coming up at 6:00 what muslim americans are saying about the political gamble republicans are taking. >> and san francisco public defender wants to bar police officers from using master keys to enter tenant hotel rooms on the heels of this video. and he is a public defender and one hotel owner says officers intimidated him as a way to get him to turn over a master key in the building. prosecutors dismissed charges in dozens of cases that might be tainted by tactics. >> there is a deadline for state lawmakers for a proposed budget. brown's fellow democrats held majorities in state assembly and senate but plan of placing tax extensions in june means a handful could get two thirds support. >> feel a sense of optimism here. you know? as i said yesterday, usually we're having conversations in july and august. now there is a handful of republicans that are in direct negotiations and have been public about it that. is a good thing. >> this includes extending taxes and democrats accepted the cuts while most republicans still oppose higher tax autos and budget problems threaten a program that

in -- about american muslims in the future. >>> peter king presented a flyer which was posted on the website for the bay area chapter on the council for american islamic relations. the local director told ktvu that the poster is being taken out of context and that their policy is to encourage cooperation with law enforcement. >>> on wall street stocks plunged following a surprise announcement from china. it has based its largest deficit since february 2004. a slowing chinese economy would be a threat on the global economy. combine that with the spike in weekly jobless claims you might find why it went into a tailspin. the nasdaq suffered a drop, dropping 50-point. >>> lindsay lohan was in court today. we have pictures of the actors arriving at the courthouse. the judge gave her two weeks to reconsider. she has pleaded not guilty to stealing a $2500 necklace from a jewelry store. the case is bound for a culinary hearing next month. >>> just over two weeks now and tell britney spears comes to san francisco for an outdoor can print -- until britney spears comes to san francisco f

. >> reporter: muslim-americans say this is the new mccarthyism. >> mohammed was a child molester. med was a pervert. >> reporter: outside a fund-raiser for muslim charities in california's conservative orange county, protesters targeted muslims, as pundits were targeted by congressional leaders in the 1950s. muslim-american leaders say this is the new senator mccarthy, new york congressman peter king. he's chairing a thursday hearing entitled radicalization in the muslim-american community in the house. >> a body that, let's be fair, has done this before. the house on american activities committee was a central ingredient in the mccarthyism, that representative king now aims to replicate. >> reporter: king is unapologetic. >> when the major threat to the united states today is coming from al qaeda and al qaeda is attempting to recruit in this country. >> reporter: king says american-muslims generally do not cooperate with law enforcement. and he uses tactics and statistics that his critics say near mccarthy's. like saying 80% to 85% of american-muslim leaders are extremists. john h

the muslim americans themselves. this is due to the lack of support they get from those in their community should be their leaders. i will allow the witnesses to say a few words. is there anything you wish to add, congressman? >> the only thing i will say that this is a follow-up to a hearing four years ago in southern california no when the chairman of the subcommittee held a meeting on the radicalization of the prison population where we learned of the effects of radicalization and the single plot located in southern california. frankly, we should have had these hearings before. this is necessary to get back out on the table and hear from members of the community as to what they go through when they want to raise the voice of moderation and the difficulties that they have. the chairman did a very good job of allowing them a platform and hopefully we can move on from this and receive other testimony and see what is appropriate for us to do to enable those in the muslim american community to be able to stand for the

i'll see mosher lani who's a muslim american doctor and journalist says the bee uys is witnessing people being singled out just for their religion. it is a very disturbing time in america when we are singling out a group of people based on their religion or their ethnicity or their race which is certainly what is happening here. kenya holds for hearings to investigate the radicalization of american homegrown terrorism in regards to muslim americans i would ask i would agree that there is a problem in terms of terrorism and violence in this country but i would just ask why are muslim americans being singled out certainly there are many others here is so different ethnicities that race and religions that have contributed to the escalating violence in this country i find that i have heard it is very disturbing to me my my parents came to this country as immigrants in has a better life which i hope i have secured here well we are becoming is somewhat country and nation who finds it acceptable to put people on trial for their religion and to put people on trial for what they believe that is c

country and attack their fellow americans. >> warner: but today's first witness objected to the premise democratic representative keith ellison of minnesota, the first muslim elected to congress, told of a man who rushed into the twin towers on 9/11 to save others, but was, for a time, a suspect himself. >> mohammed salman hamdani was a fellow american who gave his life for another americans. his life should not be identified as just a member of an ethnic group or just a member of religion, but as an american who gave everything for his fellow americans. >> warner: zuhdi jasser, of the american islamic forum for democracy, agreed but said the muslim community needs to acknowledge there's a significant problem with radicalization. >> you know, listen, i'm muslim and i realize it's my problem and i need to fix it, and that's what i'm trying to do. so we can close our eyes and pretend it doesn't exist. we can call everybody a bigot or an islamophobe if they even talk about it, but you're not going to solve the problem, and the problem is increasing exponentially. >> warner: the main panel also included two fathers whose sons were recruited into by radical gro

the center also reports that tips from the muslim-american community provided the information needed to defeat terrorist plots in 49 cases. colby, do these hearings make sense to you? >> had they been constructed differently. "the economist" said that with peter king running the hearings -- it would be like having a subject handled by a steamroller. the subject is homegrown terrorism, how it comes about, how we handle it, it could have been a conduct all -- conductive hearing. he just talked about the muslim community and the community's response to it, putting the onus on the muslim community. we said after the attacks and london, it cannot happen here because of the muslim community. we were wrong. why is it that way? why is that the case? >> charles? >> homeland security says the major threat of islamic radical terrorism is internal. we have had some success since 9/11 in keeping the x turtles from getting into our country and attacking. we do that well. we have a problem that is a recurrent one, the fort hood shooter, the times square attacker, all of those -- the somali kid that

. >> the house committee on homeland security began looking at the possible radical saigs of american muslims. >> mark matthews is here now with political gamble of the republican chair of the event is taking. >> and the republican leave believes american muslims are being radicalized vee yat internet. and that young american men could represent a threat to the nation. the chairman began the hearing saying the overwhelming majority of the muslim americans are outstanding sitten buzz there are realities they cannot afford to ignore. >> there is 15% of muslim american men between 18-29 could support suicide bombings. this is a segment of the community al qaeda is attempting to recruit. >> adding islamic organizations are not doing enough to combat terrorism pointing to a poster from a web site of the bay area kpapter of care. >> a responsible leaders must reject the groups. >> the director of the bay area chapter is zara. >> we're saying don't talk to the fbi without an attorney and knowing your rights but that poster was taken off the care web site. we're concerned that it was in conflict with

what he has titled his hearings is the radicalization of muslim americans. many leading up to the first hearing were quite concerned, from the general public and the media to sensationalize a lot of that hearing leading up to the first one as a reincarnation, if you will, of the kind of red baiting that was done in the 1950's by then senator joseph mccarthy. it's a fragile subject, one that should not be swept under the rug from all vantage points of this perspective. we must not lose our moral compass in making sure that with the advent of patriot act one and two there has been a significant eroding of civil rights of americans and people who are here to be considered american, whether they are muslim american, south asian, arab, persian, it is something we are noticing without fail, a trend that makes municipal governments have to speak up at times. this was not the first time we have spoken up. in the mid-1990s, after the first gulf war, there has also been the creation of the intel unit by the san francisco police department. it had been summarily disban

american muslims are not americans. i disagree with your assessment. in fact, you have never been able to support your statements with any factual data. here are some facts. i am part of a group of muslim leaders which cover major organizations in northern virginia here are a part of -- arab muslim communities. we need on a regular basis. community leaders are engaged ts ifa, homeland security engaged homeland and security. many tears plots were reported. the muslim community and the leadership has the same goals as congressman peter king it. that is to protect our country from any harm, foreign or domestic. however, singling out a group of americans for government scrutiny based on faith or race is divisive and wrong. if you look back into the history of our nation, many other communities have suffered similarly. african-americans, a jewish americans, japanese americans, a catholic americans, and irish americans. even more to even martin luther king now has a federal holiday named after him and won a nobel peace prize w

. >> couric: tonight, as congress examines whether some american muslims are being radicalized, an emotional tribute to one who died a hero on 9/11. >> but as an american who gave everything for his fellow americans. >> couric: i'm katie couric. also tonight the white house takes on bullying as the most powerful man in the world reveals he was a victim and cyber bullying that didn't stop even after a teenager took her own life. dangerous weather. deadly tornadoes in the south, as waters rise in the east and midwest. and she's out to prevent the heartbreaking deaths of teenage athletes. captioning sponsored by cbs from cbs news world headquarters in new york, this is the "cbs evening news" with katie couric. >> couric: good evening, everyone. it was an emotional day on capitol hill as the chairman of the house homeland security committee opened a hearing that focused on terrorism and the involvement of some american muslims. critics say that by holding the hearing, peter king is unfairly demonizing an entire religion. king contends muslim americans are not doing enough to fight terrorism or t

indeed, congressional investigation of muslim american radicalization is the logical response to the receipted and urgent warnings which the obama administration has been making in recent months. >> reporter: along with some must little american groups and civil rights groups, there are critics in congress who worry they will stoke fear and distrust. in fact, six bay area lawmakerrers, including lee and stark were among those to shrine letter saying the hearings unjustly stigmatize muslim americans. >> are there any statistics on how many muslim americans have been involved in terrorism violence? >> reporter: duke university and the university of north carolina put out a report and the number they came up with 139 muslim mernls. another group did a study and came up with 76 people being involved in such activities in the last two years. that's about half of that number of 139 that is calculated from september 11th. in the past two years it appears this is a greeing trend, at least base -- growing trend, at least based on these studies. >>> in the past hour a federal grand jury indicte

. >>> also ahead, anger and frustration from muslim americans before some capitol hill hearings this week. they say the u.s. government is unfairly targeting them because of their religion. >>> you know she's got the golden touch. oprah winfrey has a knack for identifying new tv talent. we're going to meet a young comic in a wheelchair who is so promising he's landed his own show. >> on her network. inspiring story. >>> the fighting in libya has escalated drastically. gadhafi's military used gun ships, helicopters and rockets. to pound rebel forces. >> hospitals are now trying to cope with the constant flow of wounded fighters. lama hasan reports from benghazi. >> reporter: fierce battles raged on sunday's rebel fighters pushing westward toward tripoli were met by air attacks and

american muslim commutes will be the focus on a hearing. leaders feel more like a target. >> reporter: as you can see, here in the bay area there are a lot of groups within the american-muslim communities. >> reporter: numerous hearings have been held on the threat of tearrooms but many believe tomorrow's hearing is to demonize. >> certainlily there has been a increase and we feel the hearings put fuel on the fire. >> reporter: he says the majority of american's muslims are outstanding americans but a small percentage pose a threat. a spokesman says if the committee was looking for answers -- >> they would have panelists who are members of mosque in america, you know, leaders of muslim communities but they don't have that. >> reporter: mike says the hearing is whipping up paranoia. >> that's what happened when we were incarcerated. >> reporter: american-muslim group says the focus of the hearing is too narrow. >> a hearing that focuses on one community, would be counter productive. >> reporter: peter's list of witnesses include keith, the fi

. >> alan: hundreds rallied against home-grown terrorism and the muslim americans. it's a hearing to discuss the believe that al qaeda is targeting muslim youth in the u.s. also says muslim americans are not cooperating enough with law enforcement to counter al qaeda's recruitment tactics. >> i don't want them to stabbed up and claim, we told you america is at war with islam. that's one of the main recouth arguments. >> alan: more than 100 interfaith, nonprofit, and governmental organizations protested the hearing, say it demonizes islam americans. >> reading the republican tea leaves. some to potential counties off -- potential candidates off to the races? >> alan: this could turn out to be a key week in the 2012 presidential race. potential g.o.p. contenders appear to be making steps but no one has made an official move yesterday. republicans are playing a waiting game. >> reporter: last night in new hampshire, rom mitt romney certainly sounded like a presidential candidate. >> it's going to take more than a good speech and rhetoric to get americans back to work. i

it is critical to build muchally respectful relationships with muslim american communities and enavor to work together to protect all americans. for example, new immigrants or citizen citizens -- excuse me, let me start this again. for example, as new immigrants or citizens, the vast majority of muslim committee members within my jurisdiction is fiercely proud of their american identity and display their patriotism on a daily basis. what i made critical outreach to the community after 9/11, i was overwhelmed by the number of muslims who were ready and willing to connect with law enforcement. moreover, after the 2005 transit bombings in london, the muslim american homeland security congress was formed in los angeles county to engage muslim mmunity members in our efforts to counter violent extremism. the homeland security congress is cpromised of leaders from the religious, business, professional, and academic centers of the muslim american community. moreover, supports the efforts of our muslim community affairs unit, made up of arabic speaking muslim deputy sheriffs and i might add th

issues that are at stake here don't just impact american muslims right that if the law is bad it impacts everyone and you know the civil rights that we have served and then we protect our you know our client as american muslim but really the impact is much larger but how are you looking at perhaps some of the greater moves not even you know rulings like this one in california but the fact that there has been a lot of protest over simply building mosques in america the fact that now we have muslim radicalization hearings coming to the congress absolutely and the concern is that a lot of those a lot of that sentiment comes from fear of the unknown comes from not understand islam and muslims but is also stand or sort of flamed by individuals like congressman peter king and also by policies like this one of the f.b.i. of targeting innocent american muslims and so really what that does is that stokes fear in the community and leads to anti is on the anti muslim sentiment i want to thank you both for joining us sorry. good luck with your case and we'll see where it comes up i definitely wouldn

house committee on homeland security began looking at the alleged radical of american muslims.hews has more on the political gamble the republican chairman of that committee is taking. >>reporter: committee chairman king began the hearing saying the overwhelming majority of muslim americans are outstanding citizens but there are realities the country can not afford to ignore. >> for instance the hole that 15 percent of muslim american men between the able of 18 and 29 could support suicide bombings. this is a segment of the community al qaeda is attempting to recruit. >>reporter: added that islamic organizations in the u.s. aren't doing enough to combat terrorism. pointed to a poster from a web site bay area chapter of care. council on american islamic relations. >> responsible muslim american leaders must reject the discredit group such as care. >>reporter: executive director of care bay area chapter is this man. >> we are saying don't talk to the fbi without an attorney. we are saying don't talk to the fbi without knowing your rights. but also that poster was taken off the ca

muslims and terrorism. peter king called today's homeland security hearing in washington, d.c. to examine how some american muslims are radicalized into terror. islamic groups have called the hearing a witch hunt, including a local organization presented today as evidence of the home grown terror happening in

the head of the house committee that is holding the hearing about muslim americans not cooperating enough with law enforcement to counter this. the first muslim elected to come feels the hearing could make things worse. >> i don't want them to be able to stand up and claim, we told you, america is at war with islam. that's one of the main recruiting arguments. >> alan: more than 100 enter faith, nonprofit, and governmentality organizations protested the hearing. another group held a rally in support of king's hearing. >>> senator dianne feinstein and three other u.s. senators are asking immigration officials for an immediate crack dowb -- crackdown on the use of illegal visas by sham universities. it allows terrorists to illegal enter the united states. one university in pleasant ton, more than 1500 students enrolled. she says the schools are a clear and immediate threat to our national security. >>> up next, we're not out of the clouds just yet. leigh glaser coming up to tell us more about our forecast. rick: coming up in sports, tim lincecum was on the mound. we show you how he did. >>

right or wrong world. >> the first elected muslim congress broke down in tears as he talked about muslim american aromatic who died at 911. >> we were speculating that she was perhaps one of the attackers because she was muslim. it is only one the bodies were identified that these lives were disposed. >> eyewitness is including a accused of killing an army private. he said that his son was manipulated and lied to by radical elements in the muslim community. >> where losing american fates. and for america to be on your side, tomorrow the victim might be have blond hair, blue eyes. one thing for sure, is that it is going to happen again. >>catherine: jackie spier said that his testimony was interesting but he hardly qualified as an expert. the one the hearing included nell muslim organizations or national experts on law- enforcement. stay with us. the one the hearing to not includes hearings from muslim organizations. >>catherine: the dow jones, two to eight points were down. rob black. to 8 >> rob: delete this afternoon, oil stopped rising in action started dropping. 103, 102, 101. and then talks