[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H16838]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING THE HEROICS OF HASSAN ASKARI

  (Mr. CROWLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to applaud the bravery of a young 
man, Hassan Askari. On December 9 of this year, Hassan Askari risked 
his own safety and his life to defend a group of strangers who were 
attacked on a New York City subway.
  What started as an exchange of Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah 
between two fellow passengers ignited into a violent exchange of anti-
Semitic slurs and violence.
  A group of men and women attacked the Jewish passengers, and only one 
passenger came to their defense, Hassan Askari. Hassan, like the men he 
was trying to help, was beaten and pummeled by the attackers. But as he 
said with regard to his actions, ``I believe we are all members of one 
family, and my religion teaches me always to come to the aid of my 
fellow man in distress.''
  Hassan is a Muslim from Bangladesh. He was taught, as we all should 
be, that we are humans first, first and foremost. And no matter what 
our faith or race, we should treat each other with respect.
  Hassan's actions on the subway were human nature at its best, and I 
applaud him for interceding to stop a senseless act of violence and 
hate. I hope his actions will serve as an example for all of us.

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