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
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.