CLEVELAND -- Communities are working to overcome a number of discriminatory acts against certain ethnic groups.

NewsChannel5's Paul Kiska reports that the Cleveland community is emphasizing why this country is called the "United" States of America.

Members of the Asian and Indian communities met with U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (pictured, right) Saturday during an impassioned town hall meeting.

"When we hear racial slurs (and) religious characterizations, we need to object to (them)," Kucinich said.

"People accuse me of ties with Osama bin Laden," one Arab-American said. "(I have no) ties to him at all."

Members of a variety of faiths are denouncing discrimination, urging understanding and asking not be judged by the violent acts of a fanatical few.

"(It's) more than an inconvenience; it's an injustice," Amardeep Chauhan said. "It's racial profiling."

Also on Saturday, the Greater Cleveland Chinese Community at Cleveland State University presented the Red Cross with a $12,000 check and then held a moving memorial service for the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"We want to assure fellow Americans (that) we are together in a show of support," Biang Liang of CSU said.

Kucinich wants to hold an interfaith international gathering so big that it would have to be held in one of Cleveland's stadiums.

The main point many people want to make is that if Americans turn against each other, terrorists will consider that a victory.