[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 785 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 785

 Condemning the discrimination, hate crimes, racism, bigotry, bullying 
and brutal violence perpetrated against Sikh-Americans, and all acts of 
         vandalism against Sikh Gurdwaras in the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 14, 2012

   Mr. Crowley (for himself, Mr. Pascrell, Mr. Berman, Ms. Chu, Mrs. 
Lowey, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Stark, Mr. Serrano, Ms. Speier, Mr. Moran, Ms. 
    Moore, Mr. Sherman, Ms. Richardson, Mr. Israel, Mr. Connolly of 
 Virginia, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Honda, Ms. Bonamici, 
Ms. Zoe Lofgren of California, Mr. Becerra, Mr. Farr, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. 
 Al Green of Texas, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Filner, Mr. Daniel E. 
  Lungren of California, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. 
Towns, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Mr. Levin, Mr. Holt, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, 
 Mr. Meeks, Mr. Blumenauer, Ms. Bass of California, Mr. McDermott, Ms. 
 Schakowsky, Ms. Norton, Mr. Peters, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Mr. 
Capuano, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Dingell, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. George 
 Miller of California, Mr. Costa, Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas, Mr. Burton 
  of Indiana, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Faleomavaega, Ms. DeGette, 
Mrs. Napolitano, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. Rothman of New Jersey, Ms. McCollum, 
Mrs. McCarthy of New York, Mr. Clarke of Michigan, Ms. Loretta Sanchez 
   of California, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Mr. Olver, Ms. 
 Edwards, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Nadler, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Hinchey, 
Mr. Welch, Ms. Hahn, Mr. Pierluisi, Mr. Kind, Mr. Rush, Mr. Waxman, Mr. 
  Schiff, Mr. Markey, Mr. Sires, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Davis of 
   Illinois, Mr. Engel, Mr. Kucinich, Ms. Berkley, Mr. Ackerman, Ms. 
     Tsongas, Ms. Eshoo, and Mr. McNerney) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Condemning the discrimination, hate crimes, racism, bigotry, bullying 
and brutal violence perpetrated against Sikh-Americans, and all acts of 
         vandalism against Sikh Gurdwaras in the United States.

Whereas Sikh-Americans have frequently been stereotyped solely because of their 
        appearance, practices and traditions;
Whereas numerous Sikh temples have been defaced and Sikh-Americans attacked out 
        of ignorance and hatred, including instances in Michigan, New York, and 
        California;
Whereas some incidents against Sikh-Americans appear to be erroneous attempts to 
        place blame or exact retribution for the September 11, 2001 terrorist 
        attacks;
Whereas Sikh-Americans have been murdered, including the heinous attack and 
        killing of six persons and wounding of others in the Sikh Gurdwara of 
        Wisconsin on August 5, 2012;
Whereas Sikh-Americans are often targeted solely because of their unique dress 
        and religious practices;
Whereas surveys have found that up to three out of every four Sikh boys in the 
        United States are bullied due to their appearance;
Whereas the Sikh faith is the world's fifth largest religion, with more than 25 
        million practitioners worldwide, upwards of 500,000 of whom reside in 
        the United States;
Whereas Sikh-Americans have lived in the United States for at least 100 years as 
        pillars of American society, making invaluable contributions in 
        business, politics, science and education;
Whereas Sikh-Americans serve in all roles of American life, including as family 
        members, business owners, elected leaders, and members of the United 
        States military;
Whereas Dalip Singh Saund served as a Sikh-American member of the U.S. House of 
        Representatives in the late 1950s and early 1960s; and
Whereas under successive Administrations, the Department of Justice has 
        rightfully reached out to the Sikh community to prevent discrimination 
        and protect its civil liberties: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns the commission of hate crimes against all 
        Americans, including Sikh-Americans;
            (2) condemns acts of violence, bigotry and discrimination 
        against Sikh-Americans;
            (3) urges educators, counselors and others to support 
        educational efforts to prevent the epidemic bullying of Sikh-
        American children and families;
            (4) supports outreach efforts by Federal and local law 
        enforcement leaders to prevent violence and hate crimes against 
        Sikh-Americans;
            (5) urges the U.S. Department of Justice to begin 
        documenting and quantifying hate crimes and other acts of 
        violence perpetrated against Sikh-Americans; and
            (6) expresses its strong support for the right of the Sikh-
        American community to live in peace and free from 
        discrimination, hate crimes, bullying and all forms of 
        violence.
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