    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [September 26, 2001]
    [Page 1164]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Sikh Community Leaders
    September 26, 2001

        It's my honor to welcome citizens from all across our country here
    to the Roosevelt Room and the White House to discuss our common
    commitment to make sure that every American is treated with respect and
    dignity during this period of--during any period, for that matter, of
    American history, but particularly during this time.
        An American Sikh has been killed, unjustly so. These citizens bring
    their hearts with them, and I can assure them that our Government will
    do everything we can to not only bring those people to justice but also
    to treat every human life as dear and to respect the values that made
    our country so different and so unique. We're all Americans, bound
    together by common ideals and common values.
        So I want to welcome you all here. We're honored that you're here in
    the White House, and I look forward to a good, frank discussion.
        Thank you for coming.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:10 p.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
    White House. In his remarks, he referred to Balbir Singh Sodhi, an
    Indian immigrant who was killed September 15 in Mesa, AZ, in a suspected
    hate crime.