[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 123 (Thursday, September 20, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1679-E1680]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SIKHS CONDEMN ATTACK ON UNITED STATES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CYNTHIA A. McKINNEY

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 20, 2001

  Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, the Council of Khalistan has written a 
letter to President Bush condemning Tuesday's brutal terrorist attack 
on the United States. This terrible attack is an act of war against all 
Americans and the freedom-loving people of all the world. The Council 
has also issued an excellent press release on the matter.
  In the letter, the Council's President, Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, 
writes, ``On behalf of the 21-million strong Sikh Nation and especially 
on behalf of more than 500,000 Sikh Americans, I would like to express 
our sadness and our sympathies to the people of the United States for 
the terrible attack on the United States yesterday and for the loss of 
life it entails.''
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to place this letter to President Bush and 
the Council of Khalistan's press release on the bombing into the 
Record.

                                             Council of Khalistan,


                           Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Tenth Master,

                               Washington, DC, September 12, 2001.
     Hon. George W. Bush,
     President of the United States,
     The White House,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President, On behalf of the 21-million strong Sikh 
     Nation and especially on behalf of more than 500,000 Sikh 
     Americans, I would like to express our sadness and our 
     sympathies to the people of the United States for the 
     terrible attack on the United States yesterday and for the 
     loss of life it entails. This is a terrible tragedy and we 
     know that you will take appropriate action. Like all 
     Americans and all decent people everywhere, we condemn this 
     brutal senseless attack.
       The Sikh religion recognizes all humanity as our brothers 
     and we pray for the well-

[[Page E1680]]

     being of all. Our prayers and our sympathies are with the 
     people of the United States at this tragic time. We 
     especially pray for the families of those who have departed. 
     May God bring peace to these departed souls and to their 
     families.
       We support you and we pray for the people of America. God 
     bless you and God bless America.
           Sincerely,

                                      Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh,

                                                        President,
                                             Council of Khalistan.


         Council of Khalistan Condemns Attack on United States


                       Urges Sikhs to Give Blood

       WASHINGTON, DC.--September 12, 2001--Dr. Gurmit Singh 
     Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, today 
     condemned the brutal attack on the United States that 
     occurred yesterday.
       ``On behalf of the 21-million strong Sikh Nation and 
     especially on behalf of more than 500,000 Sikh Americans, I 
     would like to express our sadness and our sympathies to the 
     people of the United States for the terrible attack on the 
     United States yesterday and for the loss of life it 
     entails,'' Dr. Aulakh said.
       ``I urge Sikh Americans to give blood and to pray for the 
     victims, for their families, and for all those who are 
     helping our country and our communities in this time of 
     need,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``We must do our part as American 
     citizens,`` he said. ``We stand together as a nation.''
       ``Like all Americans and all decent people everywhere, we 
     condemn this brutal and senseless attack. The Sikh religion 
     recognizes all the human race as one and we pray for the 
     well-being of all. Our prayers and our sympathies are with 
     the people of the United States at this tragic time. We 
     especially pray for the families of those who have 
     departed.''
       ``This tragic event happened in the most diverse city in 
     the world,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``There is hardly a national or 
     ethnic group that has not been touched directly by this 
     tragedy. Our sympathies are extended to those who have been 
     touched personally,'' he said. ``Violence against innocent 
     people of any religion or ethnicity is unacceptable. It must 
     be ended.''
       Unfortunately, some people have engaged in violence against 
     Sikhs in the wake of the bombings yesterday. A couple of 
     young Sikhs were attacked in Brooklyn. Sikh businesses have 
     been stoned and cars have been burned. A Sikh boy was even 
     shot in New York.
       ``Today we all stand together as Americans, regardless of 
     race, religion, or ethnicity,'' he said. ``We must not accept 
     terrorism. We must unite against this evil,'' he said. ``We 
     must work to bring all Americans together to defeat this 
     brutal enemy.''

     

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