[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 1359-1360]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, yesterday, President Obama visited a mosque 
in Baltimore, MD. It was a powerful expression to counter the divisive, 
hateful rhetoric used by too many Republicans and to emphasize the 
importance of giving all Americans the respect and dignity they 
deserve. For years rightwing extremists have attacked the religion of 
Islam and stoked fear about the presence of Muslims in our country.
  Some of those same extremists attacked President Obama for visiting 
the mosque yesterday. That is an attack on millions of American 
citizens who are being slandered. I was so gratified that the Presiding 
Officer had the

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courage to show solidarity with the Muslims in the State of Arizona and 
the country by visiting a mosque a short time ago. The Presiding 
Officer was attacked by rightwing extremists for this visit. I am sorry 
about that, but I admire what he did.
  When hateful extremists set their sights on attacking one religion, 
they are attacking the core values of American society upon which our 
Nation was founded. President Obama could not have made this point more 
clearly yesterday. He said, ``An attack on one faith is an attack on 
all our faiths.''
  Religious liberty is a priceless American value that should be 
cherished. We cannot allow the threat from menacing radicals to change 
who we are and how we treat our fellow citizens. As President Obama 
also said yesterday, ``We are one American family. We will rise and 
fall together.'' So I applaud the President for his courage and 
willingness to combat the detestable hatred that leading Republicans 
have embraced and far too few Republicans have spoken out against--the 
hateful rhetoric--especially in the Presidential election by our 
Republican colleagues.
  As defenders of democracy, we must stand against the bigotry wherever 
it arises. Doing so is the only way to ensure that we stay true to our 
fundamental values. As election season begins to kick into high gear, I 
encourage the American people to heed the call that President Obama 
made yesterday at the Islamic Society of Baltimore, when he closed by 
saying, ``We have to reaffirm that most fundamental of truths--we are 
all God's children, all born equal with inherent dignity.''
  Will the Chair announce the business before the Senate today.

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