IV
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 255
Condemning bigotry and violence against Sikh Americans in the wake of
terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 4, 2001
Mr. HONDA (for himself, Mr. SHAYS, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. SERRANO, Mr.
BROWN of Ohio, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. MATSUI, Mr. BERMAN,
Mr. DELAHUNT, Ms. LOFGREN, Mr. FARR of California, Mr. FERGUSON,
Mr. DINGELL, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. FORD, Mr.
FRELINGHUYSEN, Mr. HERGER, Mr. HAYWORTH, Mr. CLEMENT, Ms.
BERKLEY, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mr. LOBIONDO, Mr.
SOUDER, Mr. KIRK, Mr. CONDIT, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mrs. BIGGERT,
Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Mr. BECERRA, Mr. HYDE, Mr. ISRAEL, Mrs.
JOHNSON of Connecticut, Mr. BLAGOJEVICH, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. PASTOR,
Mr. SIMMONS, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. KING, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. POMBO,
Mr. PALLONE, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr. KNOLLENBERG, Mr.
MEEHAN, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. COOKSEY, Mr. ANDREWS, Mr. HIN-
CHEY, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. EVANS, Mrs. TAUSCHER,
Ms. SOLIS, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. CRAMER, Mr. HASTINGS of
Florida, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. SHERMAN, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. MORAN of Vir-
ginia, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Mrs. MORELLA, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. TOM
DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. BISHOP, Mr.
BURTON of Indiana, Ms. WATSON of California, Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Mr.
BACA, Mr. HORN, Mr. WU, Mr. LANTOS, Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Mr.
UNDERWOOD, Ms. MCKINNEY, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. FROST, Mr.
FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. BORSKI, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE
JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. STARK, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr.
SMITH of New Jersey, Ms. LEE, Mr. OSE, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr.
MCDERMOTT, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin, Mr. KLECZKA,
Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. LEWIS
of California, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. BONIOR, Mr. HOLT, Mr. CAPUANO,
Mr. FATTAH, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. REYES, Mrs. MCCARTHY of New
York, Mr. VISCLOSKY, Mr. BOUCHER, Mr. FILNER, Mr. CONYERS, Mr.
DICKS, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, and Mr. LAMPSON) sub-
mitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
the Judiciary
•HRES 255 IH
RESOLUTION
Condemning bigotry and violence against Sikh Americans
in the wake of terrorist attacks against the United States
on September 11, 2001.
Whereas all Americans are united in condemning, in the
strongest possible terms, the terrorists who planned and
carried out the attacks against the United States on Sep-
tember 11, 2001, and in pursuing all those responsible
for those attacks and their sponsors until they are
brought to justice;
Whereas Sikh Americans form a vibrant, peaceful, and law-
abiding part of America’s people;
Whereas approximately 500,000 Sikh Americans reside in the
United States and are a vital part of the Nation;
Whereas Sikh Americans stand resolutely in support of the
commitment of our Government to bring the terrorists
and those that harbor them to justice;
Whereas the Sikh faith is a distinct religion with a distinct
religious and ethnic identity that has its own places of
worship and a distinct holy text and religious tenets;
Whereas many Sikh Americans, who are easily recognizable
by their turbans and beards, which are required articles
of their faith, have suffered both verbal and physical as-
saults as a result of misguided anger toward Arab Ameri-
cans and Muslim Americans in the wake of the Sep-
tember 11, 2001 terrorist attack;
Whereas Sikh Americans, as do all Americans, condemn acts
of hate and prejudice against any American; and
Whereas the House of Representatives is seriously concerned
by the number of hate crimes against Sikh Americans
•HRES 255 IH
and other Americans all across the Nation that have been
reported in the wake of the tragic events that unfolded
on September 11, 2001: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) declares that, in the quest to identify, lo-
cate, and bring to justice the perpetrators and spon-
sors of the terrorist attacks on the United States on
September 11, 2001, the civil rights and civil lib-
erties of all Americans, including Sikh Americans,
should be protected;
(2) condemns bigotry and any acts of violence
or discrimination against any Americans, including
Sikh Americans;
(3) calls upon local and Federal law enforce-
ment authorities to work to prevent hate crimes
against all Americans, including Sikh Americans;
and
(4) calls upon local and Federal law enforce-
ment authorities to prosecute to the fullest extent of
the law all those who commit hate crimes.
Æ