-- by Paul Hammel, The Omaha World-Herald:

Incidents of harassment and intimidation have increased in Fremont, Neb., since voters approved an ordinance in June to clamp down on illegal immigrants, a civil rights panel was told Wednesday.

“In some ways, the special election provided a license for people to act out,” said Kristin Ostrom, an official with One Fremont One Future, a group that opposed the ordinance.

Ostrom said her group has gathered reports of 65 alleged incidents of harassment and discrimination since the June vote, including three cases that could be described as “hate” crimes. She and others said that number is probably low because Hispanics now have greater fears about the consequences of reporting incidents to police.

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