Source: Los Angeles Times

http://www.latimes.com/la-me-suit24apr24,0,7034779.story

On April 24, 2003 the Los Angeles Times reported that "days after his jaw was unwired, an Arab American teenager spoke out against the youths who allegedly attacked him with baseball bats, golf clubs and screwdrivers at an Orange County park two months ago, demanding justice for what he believes was an ethnically motivated attack... Rashid Alam, an 18-year-old Muslim of Lebanese descent, filed a civil lawsuit against four youths and their parents Wednesday. He described it as a statement against hate crimes, and a way to encourage prosecutors to file criminal charges against his alleged attackers... Alam said he has faith that his lawsuit and American courts, rather than his fists, are better weapons against the violence and racism he says have forever changed his life by leaving him paranoid, unable to sleep and with permanent metal plates in his face."