[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 96 (Thursday, July 1, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S8199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CONDEMNING ACTS OF ARSON AT SACRAMENTO, CA, SYNAGOGUES

  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 136, introduced 
earlier today by Senators Boxer and Feinstein.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 136) condemning the acts of arson at 
     three Sacramento, CA, synagogues on June 18, 1999, and 
     calling on all Americans to categorically reject crimes of 
     hate and intolerance.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to join my friend and 
colleague, Senator Barbara Boxer, to introduce a Sense of the Senate 
Resolution condemning the acts of arson at three Sacramento, California 
synagogues on June 18, 1999. The resolution also calls on all Americans 
to categorically reject crimes of hate and intolerance.
  I believe this measure is important not only to the Sacramento 
community but also to all Americans who abhor intolerance.
  I was shocked and saddened when I first heard the news that three 
synagogues in Sacramento had been targeted by arsonists. Committed just 
a few hours before dawn, this heinous attack was carried out over a 45 
minute time span signaling to us that this was deliberate and 
premeditated act.
  In that time, $1.2 million in damage was done to the Congregation 
B'nai Israel, Congregation Beth Shalom and the Kenessett Israel Torah 
Center. While the damage to the property was severe, no dollar amount 
can reflect the true damage done when hateful crimes such as these 
strike at the heart of a community.
  Mr. President, I believe it is tragic that even though we have made 
significant progress to increase tolerance in this nation that such 
vicious hate crimes continue to be committed.
  This resolution expresses our resolve to ensure that such acts of 
ignorance and bigotry will not be tolerated in this nation and those 
who commit them will face swift justice. While the resolution condemns 
these specific acts of arson in the Sacramento area, it also declares 
our collective abhorrence to all crimes of intolerance.
  The resolution also says that the Senate is committed to using 
Federal law enforcement personnel and resources to identify the persons 
who committed these heinous acts and brings them to justice in a swift 
and deliberate manner. It also recognizes and applauds the residents of 
Sacramento area who have so quickly joined together to lend support and 
assistance to the victims of these despicable crimes, and remains 
committed to preserving the freedom of religion of all members of the 
community.
  I believe that one of the most sacred rights we have as Americans is 
the freedom of religion. This country came to be because people wanted 
to be able to choose how they worshiped. I hope that in the wake of 
this sorrowful event, we are all reminded of the importance of this 
freedom.
  Whatever the motive in these arsons, all people of faith in the 
Sacramento community and this nation must stand together to fight such 
hatred. The bottom line is that hatred, bigotry and racism all come 
from the same place--ignorance.
  California's modern heritage is one in which diversity is to be 
respected, not scorned. As long as hate crimes continue to counter that 
heritage, we must work together to denounce intolerance and the protect 
the rights of all.
  Mr. President, while we have made progress to increase tolerance in 
this nation, tragic events like these in Sacramento prove that we still 
need to do more. Together, we must send the strongest possible message 
that hate crimes will not be tolerated.
  Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I join today with my colleagues, Senators 
Boxer and Feinstein to introduce a resolution condemning the acts of 
arson against the three Jewish synagogues in Sacramento, California.
  Our history is blessed with courageous acts of men and women who have 
refused to accept, and united against, ignorance, oppression and 
discrimination. It was their selflessness which, in large part, secured 
and protected the same freedoms and liberties so many Americans take 
for granted today.
  On June 18th, 1999, in Sacramento, California, the Congregation B'nai 
Israel, Congregation Beth Shalom and Knesset Israel Torah Center were 
victims of malicious and cowardly acts of arson. Mr. President, these 
acts of intolerance and malice are a direct attack against all 
Americans and the ideals which are integral to a free and democratic 
society. The very liberties that allow America to prosper are directly 
undermined by such acts of blatant hatred and intolerance.
  Mr. President, the United States owes much of its strength and 
greatness to the special uniqueness and diversity of its people. It is 
imperative that we unite, upholding our responsibility to honor and 
protect the basic, inalienable right to live without fear and violence. 
We must send a message to those individuals who would undermine our 
free and democratic society, that their acts, and any similar actions, 
will not be tolerated.
  Mr. President, I would also like to take this time to commend the 
residents of Sacramento, and the larger California community, who have 
joined in solidarity with the Jewish congregations, demonstrating their 
continued commitment to preserving the freedom of all members of the 
community.
  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution and preamble be agreed to, en bloc, the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table and any statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 136) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 136

       Whereas on the evening of June 18, 1999, in Sacramento, 
     California, the Congregation B'nai Israel, Congregation Beth 
     Shalom, and Kenesset Israel Torah Center were victims of 
     malicious and cowardly acts of arson;
       Whereas such crimes against our institutions of faith are 
     crimes against us all;
       Whereas we have celebrated since our Nation's birth the 
     rich and colorful diversity of its people, and the sanctity 
     of a free and democratic society;
       Whereas the liberties Americans enjoy are attributed in 
     large part to the courage and determination of visionaries 
     who made great strides in overcoming the barriers of 
     oppression, intolerance, and discrimination in order to 
     ensure fair and equal treatment for every American by every 
     American;
       Whereas this type of unacceptable behavior is a direct 
     assault upon the fundamental rights of all Americans who 
     cherish their freedom of religion; and
       Whereas every Member of Congress serves in part as a role 
     model and bears a responsibility to protect and honor the 
     multitude of cultural institutions and traditions we enjoy in 
     the United States of America: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, 
     That the Senate--
       (1) condemns the crimes that occurred in Sacramento, 
     California, at Congregation B'nai Israel, Congregation Beth 
     Shalom, and Kenesset Israel Torah Center on the evening of 
     June 18, 1999;
       (2) rejects such acts of intolerance and malice in our 
     society and interprets such attacks on cultural and religious 
     institutions as an attack on all Americans;
       (3) in the strongest terms possible, is committed to using 
     Federal law enforcement personnel and resources pursuant to 
     existing federal authority to identify the persons who 
     committed these heinous acts and bring them to justice in a 
     swift and deliberate manner;
       (4) recognizes and applauds the residents of the 
     Sacramento, California, area who have so quickly joined 
     together to lend support and assistance to the victims of 
     these despicable crimes, and remain committed to preserving 
     the freedom of religion of all members of the community; and
       (5) calls upon all Americans to categorically reject 
     similar acts of hate and intolerance.

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