Date: 2003-10-07
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H. Res. 234. H. Res. 234 condemns bigotry and violence against ArabAmericans. MuslimAmericans. South AsianAmericans and SikhAmericans. and I urge all of my colleagues to support it. This resolution condemns bigotry and violence against individuals of ArabAmerican. MuslimAmerican. South AsianAmerican. and SikhAmerican dissent. It was introduced in response to concerns about an increase in discriminatory backlash crimes following the commencement of military action in Iraq in March of 2003. Specifically. House Resolution 234 recognizes the many contributions of ArabAmericans. MuslimAmericans. South AsianAmericans. and SikhAmericans to the Nation and calls upon law enforcement authorities to work vigorously to prevent discriminatory backlash crimes against such persons and to investigate such crimes that do occur and reaffirms the House of Representatives commitment to assuring that civil rights of all Americans. including individuals of ArabAmerican. MuslimAmerican. South AsianAmerican. and SikhAmerican dissent. be protected. In the weeks and months following the terrorist attacks of September 11. 2001. this Nation saw a significant increase in the number of crimes committed against those perceived to be ArabAmericans. MuslimAmerican. South AsianAmerican. and SikhAmerican descent. According to hate crimes statistics compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. criminal acts motivated by bias against ethnicity/national origin were the secondmost frequently reported bias in 2001. more than doubling the number of incidents. offenses. victims and known offenders from 2000 data and the antiother ethnicity/national origin category quadrupled in incidents. offenses. victims. and known offenders. Similarly. the number of antiIslamic incidents grew 1.600 percent between the year 2000 and 2001. taking such incidents from the secondleast reported category of reported religiousbias incidents in 2000 to the secondhighest category of religiousbias in Mr. Speaker. there can be no room for hatred and bigotry in America. Our history has taught us that when we rise above such hatred. we are stronger as a Nation. Too often in our history. fear and panic have resulted in discrimination and even oppression by our government of groups perceived to be a threat. Invariably. when things calm down and cooler heads prevail. there is a great sense of national shame at the injustices perpetuated against innocent people whose only crime was their race. religion. national origin or ethnicity. It is important that this House go on record as condemning these reprehensible acts which betray what is best about our Nation. We are a diverse Nation. and we are the stronger for it. We are we cannot permit blind hatred to destroy that. In addition to this resolution. I would hope that this House will also turn its attention to the extent to which the government has assaulted the rights of innocent individuals simply because of their race. religion or national origin. In addition to the hate crimes perpetuated by individuals. we must be vigilant that the power of government not be abused and that people not be targeted by law enforcement even if they have done nothing wrong. The right to live free from violence and discrimination is a fundamental right of all Americans. So long as one American is denied that right. no one can truly be free. I urges all my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.