[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 283 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 283

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal 
  Government should takes steps to counter the growth in anti-Muslim 
   sentiments, targeted rhetorical attacks, and violence against the 
       Muslim, Arab, Sikh, and South Asian American communities.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 26, 2011

   Mr. Conyers (for himself, Mr. Carson of Indiana, Mr. Ellison, Ms. 
  Clarke of New York, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. McDermott, Ms. 
 Jackson Lee of Texas, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Honda, Ms. Woolsey, 
Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Towns, Ms. Chu, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Mr. Stark, Mr. 
    Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Moran, Ms. Zoe Lofgren of 
 California, Mr. Polis, Mr. Rush, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Mr. Cummings, 
 Mr. Tonko, and Mr. Filner) submitted the following resolution; which 
             was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal 
  Government should takes steps to counter the growth in anti-Muslim 
   sentiments, targeted rhetorical attacks, and violence against the 
       Muslim, Arab, Sikh, and South Asian American communities.

Whereas the United States is a country founded on the principles of tolerance 
        and religious freedom, as embodied in the First Amendment of the 
        Constitution;
Whereas the protection of these principles is vital to the ongoing sense of 
        community shared by the diverse peoples and religious groups of the 
        United States;
Whereas violent extremism is a serious threat to the sense of community fostered 
        by the First Amendment and is perpetrated by individuals from a variety 
        of racial, ethnic, religious, and political backgrounds;
Whereas the investigation of violent extremism must be careful to proceed based 
        on the facts, not innuendo and opinion, and critically relies on the 
        cooperation and confidence of the public;
Whereas law enforcement and government officials should avoid conduct that 
        raises the specter of unconstitutional profiling, including the 
        assignment of blame or targeting members of an entire religious, ethnic, 
        or geographical community for increased suspicion, based on the conduct 
        of a single or small group of individuals;
Whereas American Muslims have a centuries-long history of playing crucial roles 
        in the United States Armed Forces and law enforcement, and as business 
        leaders, doctors, lawyers, and teachers and are an integral part of 
        diverse communities in cities and small towns throughout the United 
        States;
Whereas American Muslims, like all citizens of the United States, want to live 
        in safe communities, do their part to keep communities safe, and should 
        enjoy the same rights and freedoms guaranteed to all citizens of the 
        United States;
Whereas there exists in the United States today a disturbing and dangerous trend 
        of anti-Muslim rhetoric and bigotry, evidenced by attacks against 
        individuals, religious institutions, and entire communities;
Whereas Congress has a solemn duty to ensure that its actions do not fuel 
        misconceptions about, and prejudices toward, any faith community, 
        including the American Muslim community and Islam;
Whereas putting an entire community under suspicion erodes trust in government 
        and law enforcement at all levels, which, in turn, undermines public 
        safety;
Whereas targeting American Muslims for scrutiny based on their religion goes 
        against the core principles of religious freedom and equal protection 
        under the law;
Whereas a 2006 study commissioned by the United States Department of Justice 
        found that Arab Americans were suspicious of Federal law enforcement due 
        to government policies and that both community members and law 
        enforcement officers determined that diminished trust was the most 
        important barrier to cooperation; and
Whereas scores of religious, civil rights, law enforcement, and national 
        security leaders and organizations representing diverse citizens of the 
        United States and areas of expertise are concerned about hearings which 
        appear to target the American Muslim community: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) investigations into radicalization in the United States 
        should focus on the criminal behavior of individuals and avoid 
        creating the impression of unconstitutional profiling based on 
        constitutionally protected beliefs and activities; and
            (2) the Federal Government should take steps to counter the 
        growth in anti-Muslim sentiments, targeted rhetorical attacks, 
        and violence against the Muslim, Arab, Sikh, and South Asian 
        American communities.
                                 <all>