[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 72 (Monday, May 9, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S2606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  MAYORAL ELECTION IN LONDON, ENGLAND

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, a notable thing happened this weekend across 
the Atlantic. The people of London, England, elected Sadiq Khan as the 
first Muslim mayor of their city. The mayor of the city of London is a 
Muslim, a proud Muslim. That election speaks to the openness and 
tolerance exhibited by England.
  Let us not forget that England is a Protestant nation. According to 
the Nation's most recent census, the people of London are predominantly 
Christian. When London voters went to the polls, they refused to allow 
Mr. Khan's religion to be the deciding factor. They refused to give in 
to the bigotry and Islamic rhetoric that is plaguing American politics. 
Instead, Londoners voted for the candidate whom they thought would best 
represent their interests and who happened to be a Muslim.
  The election of Sadiq Khan is an example of how a democracy should 
operate--independent of fear and prejudice. This is what he said 
yesterday:

       I have spent my entire life encouraging minority 
     communities to get involved in civil society, in mainstream 
     politics. I've been fighting extremism and radicalization all 
     my life. You should conduct politics in a positive way to 
     enthuse people to get involved.

  Many of us in the United States would do well to learn from Mayor 
Khan's example.

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