[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 23150]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                      PASS HATE CRIMES LEGISLATION

  (Mr. SCHIFF asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the House to pass hate 
crimes legislation before we recess this year. We are a Nation still at 
war. We are a Nation still healing, and we are still standing strong as 
a people unified. The events of September 11 have brought out the very 
finest in what America stands for. Communities have rallied around its 
law enforcement officers, neighbors have come together, individuals 
have stopped by a fire station to say a word of thanks. In many ways we 
have celebrated our diversity and united as a Nation.
  Unfortunately, some have taken the events of September 11 to act 
violently towards those who may appear different from the majority. 
Since September 11 there have been 1,200 recorded deaths, assaults, 
discrimination, bomb threats or intimidation against men, women, 
children and families who look like or are Arab or Muslim Americans.
  At a time when we are fighting a war against terrorism and hatred, we 
have a golden opportunity to show the world that we celebrate our 
diversity; that every American citizen or everyone who visits here will 
not be in danger because of their national origin or religious faith; 
that we will not allow these acts of terror to divide us; that we are 
one Nation under God, indivisible and we will stay that way.

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