Piedmont Immigrants Concerned About Backlash

Triad residents are expressing concern about a backlash directed toward immigrants. That was the topic of a community conversation Wednesday night in Greensboro.

The meeting at Congregational United Church of Christ was the first in a series of dialogues designed to raise awareness about refugee resettlement in the U.S.

Many area residents are worried about a backlash directed toward them since the shootings in San Bernadino, Calif., and terrorist attacks in Paris.

The News and Record of Greensboro reports more than 100 people showed up to express their concerns.

One speaker pointed out that Greensboro has a long history of resettlement, and that the city has been perceived as welcoming.

According to one audience member, the local Muslim community used a hate letter sent to the Islamic Center of Greensboro as an inspiration to bring people together and hold a Peace Festival.

Attendees expressed hope that by having deeper conversations, they might combat knee-jerk bias and stereotypes that are seeping into the culture-at-large.