[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 158 (Thursday, November 15, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2089]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HATE CRIMES IN AMERICA

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                               speech of

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 14, 2001

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I want to rise to 
lend my voice to those who have spoken here today on the issue of hate 
crimes directed toward those who are Muslims, of middle eastern 
descent, or who are perceived as belonging to either group. As Chairman 
of the Congressional Black Caucus, I know that hate crimes are not new. 
They are as old as lynchings and as real as bombings. Racial, religious 
and ethnic minorities have been the victims of hate crimes for a very 
long time in America and yet we all know that these acts of cowardice 
are rarely punished, routinely ignored and the victims are often 
considered the cause of the horror aimed at them.
  I know that in other moments of crisis in this country, we have 
allowed fear to overcome reason and official actions to lead to unfair 
deprivations. The internment of the Japanese Americans, the treatment 
of the Native Americans and the slavery and segregation of African 
Americans were all caused by the interaction of fear, hatred and 
official action. In the new millennium, this country cannot afford to 
resort to old patterns of behavior.
  In my district, the day after the September 11th attack, there were 
reports of people who shot into mosques in attempts to harm or 
terrorize. At that time, I issued a call for calm and reminded my 
constituents that this country must never resort to vigilante violence. 
In the wake of the horror that has been visited upon this country, we 
cannot allow ourselves to forget what it means to be an American. We 
must not forget that inclusion, diversity and respect for all people 
regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation and national 
origin is the cornerstone of America's foundation and the undergirding 
of our greatness.
  The American dream must be kept alive and well within our current 
nightmare. I am deeply disappointed to hear of the many instances of 
hate crimes that have occurred throughout the nation. I know that 
America is greater than this and I know that as always, the forces of 
fairness will overcome every domestic and international evil because 
the moral arch of the universe may be long, but it always bends toward 
justice.

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