Where to turn – and how to fight back

SINCE LAST SEPT . 11, Americans' civil rights have been attacked like never before. Here are some organizations to turn to if your rights have been abused – or if you want to join the struggle against the Bush administration crackdown.

National Lawyers Guild of Northern California INS and FBI hotline (415) 285-1055.

The NLG has set up this hotline for anyone who has been contacted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The group recommends not speaking with either agency before contacting a lawyer, which it provides free of charge.

American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California (415) 621-2493.

If your civil rights have been abused, contact the ACLU to have your case reviewed by a lawyer.

Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights (415) 543-9444.

The committee offers representation for people of Middle Eastern descent whose rights have been violated after the Sept. 11 attacks.

American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (415) 861-7444.

The ADC works to defend the Arab American community from all forms of discrimination.

Send John Ashcroft a fax through the ACLU Web site (www.aclu.org/action/civilrights107.html) or call him at his office (202) 514-2001.

If you've had your civil rights abused by a Department of Justice employee, you can call the hotline at the Inspector General's Office (800) 869-4499 or send a fax to (202) 616-9898.