[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKnVD_oSDO0&w=560&h=315]

Since the tragic events of 9/11, Muslim and Arab communities in the United States have experienced increased scrutiny from local law enforcement agencies. Tensions between law enforcement officials and Muslim citizens have been especially high since the NYPD’s Muslim surveillance program was exposed to the public in 2011. The program, which was instituted in 2002 under the provisions of the Patriot Act, involved the infiltration of Muslim communities and mosques by undercover police officers tasked with gathering intelligence on potential terrorist plots. In order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the effect of this program on community relations, our research team traveled to a small Muslim community in Astoria, NY, known as Little Egypt.