The survey has already helped to strengthen the Commission's connections with Muslim, Arab and South Asian Communities in New York City. It will also serve to shape future education, prevention and enforcement efforts.

From over 11,000 surveys distributed throughout the City between October 2002 and April 2003, the Commission received 956 completed surveys. These responses documented 1,226 incidents of discrimination reported by 659 individuals. It was revealed that 69% of the respondents believed that they were the victim of one or more incidents of discrimination or bias-related harassment. Further, 79% of respondents felt that they had been negatively affected by the events of 9/11, regardless of whether they have directly experienced discrimination.

The report also revealed that 83% of respondents did not ask for help from anyone in a government agency or community organization because they were either afraid, believed that nothing would be done, did not know who to contact or thought the incident did not warrant reporting.

Bias-related harassment was the most common type of discrimination and comprised 37% of the incidents reported in the survey. Employment discrimination followed at 26% and public accommodations at 25%. Housing discrimination made up the remaining 11%.

The Commission's survey and report were funded in part by the New York Community Trust. Those assisting the Commission were: the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, The Arab-American Family Support Center, Chhaya Community Development Corporation, The Council of Pakistan Organization, South Asian Youth Action!, South Asian Council for Social Services, and The Coney Island Avenue Project.