[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 22, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E365]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNITION OF INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL 
                             DISCRIMINATION

                                  _____
                                 

                  HON. HENRY C. ``HANK'' JOHNSON, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 22, 2017

  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, yesterday was International Day 
for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It is no secret that hate 
and racism are very much still alive today. Society is often racist and 
prejudiced against minority individuals, because of the color of their 
skin or where they come from. Men and women are denied jobs, migrant 
status, or even killed because of racial discrimination. The Southern 
Poverty Law Center's Hate Group Map indicates that the number of hate 
groups has grown for two years in a row. The SPLC map also demonstrates 
that currently there are more than 900 organizations in existence whose 
primary purpose is to drive a narrative of hate, discrimination, and 
intimidation. Additionally, a Pew research study showed racial tensions 
are perceived to have worsened by 38 percent of people since President 
Obama's first term. The same study indicated that African-Americans are 
about twice as likely as whites to feel that it is in fact 
discrimination that is preventing the success of Black Americans. The 
FBI's 2016 hate crime report reveals that hate crimes against Muslims 
grew by 67 percent in just one year.
  This administration's rhetoric has encouraged behavior that is 
aggressive and intolerant. This is not reflective of America and our 
values. We must be diligent in our efforts to minimize and eliminate 
racial discrimination from all facets of society and our political 
narrative.

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