[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 6, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5788-S5789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 133--CONDEMNING BIGOTRY AND VIOLENCE AGAINST ARAB
AMERICANS, MUSLIM AMERICANS, SOUTH-ASIAN AMERICANS, AND SIKH AMERICANS
Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Sununu, and Mr. Feingold) submitting the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary:
S. Res. 133
Whereas all Americans are united in supporting American men
and women who protect our Nation abroad and at home;
Whereas thousands of Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, Sikh
Americans, and South-Asian Americans serve in the military
and in law enforcement, working to protect all Americans;
Whereas the Arab-American, Muslim-American, Sikh-American,
and South-Asian-American communities are vibrant, peaceful,
and law-abiding, and have greatly contributed to American
society;
Whereas Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, Sikh Americans,
and South-Asian Americans, as do all Americans, condemn acts
of violence and prejudice;
Whereas the United States Senate is concerned by the number
of bias-motivated crimes against Arab Americans, Muslim
Americans, Sikh Americans, and South-Asian Americans, and
other Americans in recent months: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) declares that the civil rights and civil liberties of
all Americans, including Arab Americans, Muslim Americans,
Sikh Americans, and South-Asian Americans, should be
protected;
(2) condemns bigotry and acts of violence against any
Americans, including Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, Sikh
Americans, and South-Asian Americans;
(3) calls upon local, State, and Federal law enforcement
authorities to work to prevent bias-motivated crimes against
all Americans, including Arab Americans, Muslim Americans,
Sikh Americans, and South-Asian Americans; and
(4) calls upon local, State, and Federal law enforcement
authorities to investigate and prosecute vigorously all such
crimes committed against Arab Americans, Muslim Americans,
Sikh Americans, and South-Asian Americans.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, Sikh
Americans, and South-Asian Americans are an important part of America.
Like other ethnic and religious groups, they and their ancestors came
to this country seeking political freedom and economic opportunity.
They have flourished, making great contributions to our society every
day. They are
[[Page S5789]]
armed service-members, law enforcement officers, teachers, doctors,
lawyers, and businesspeople. They are leaders in American society,
including members of Congress and Cabinet members.
Tragically, in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks,
some misguided bigots turned against Arab Americans, Muslim Americans,
Sikh Americans, and South-Asian Americans, singling them out as targets
for violence and threats of violence. Hate crimes against these
communities, including violent physical assaults, sharply increased.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that the number of anti-
Muslim incidents rose 1600 percent from 2000 to 2001, largely due to
this post-9/11 backlash.
In response, countless Americans came to the support of Arab
Americans, Muslim Americans, Sikh Americans, and South-Asian Americans,
condemning the attacks and embracing the affected communities. At that
time, I submitted a resolution, which was unanimously approved,
condemning bigotry and violence against Sikh Americans.
Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, Sikh Americans, and South-Asian
Americans are suffering again, and it is again time to express our
support for them. Since the beginning of the war in Iraq, hate crimes
against these communities have spiked. For example, a man who law
enforcement believe was motivated by anti-Arab sentiment allegedly shot
four people to death in New York City during February and March.
President Bush has declared that major combat operations in Iraq have
ended, but hate crimes against Arab Americans, Muslims, South-Asian
Americans, and Sikhs continue. For example, at the University of
California Los Angeles, someone recently poured pig's blood on Muslim
prayer rugs in an interdenominational chapel. The FBI is investigating
the incident as a bias-motivated crime.
Hate crimes against these communities are wrong and un-American. We
must condemn them in the strongest terms, and law enforcement must
investigate and prosecute vigorously the perpetrators.
Sadly, Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, Sikh Americans, and South-
Asian Americans are also increasingly concerned that the Federal
Government views them with suspicion, and that they are being subjected
to heightened government scrutiny as a result of their national origin
or religion. Our counterterrorism efforts must not discriminate on the
basis of national origin or religion or violate the civil liberties of
innocent Americans. The government's efforts to combat terrorism must
focus on criminal or terrorist behavior, not ethnicity or creed.
I believe that discriminatory counterterrorism tactics, or those that
violate civil liberties, are not only wrong, but they do not make our
country any safer. Our country's history demonstrates that respect for
individual rights enhances our stability and security. Singling out a
large group of mostly innocent Arabs, Muslims and South Asians
squanders precious law enforcement resources and alienates communities
whose cooperation we need. It runs counter to basic principles of
community policing, which reject the use of racial and ethnic profiles
and focus on building trust and respect by working cooperatively with
community members.
The resolution I submit today recognizes that Arab Americans, Muslim
Americans, Sikh Americans, and South Asian Americans, greatly
contribute to American society and serve honorably in the military or
law enforcement, urges respect for civil rights and civil liberties,
condemns bias-motivated crimes against members of these communities,
and calls upon Federal and local law enforcement to prosecute such
crimes vigorously. I urge my colleagues to support it.
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