[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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