The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) commended the approval of the full Senate by unanimous consent of a “sense of the Senate” resolution (S.Res. 133) that recognizes the important role Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, Sikh Americans, and South Asian Americans play in our society. S.Res. 133 also urges respect for civil rights and civil liberties, condemns bias-motivated crimes against members of these communities, and calls upon federal and local law enforcement to prosecute such crimes vigorously.
ADC President Dr. Ziad Asali noted the importance of Senate passage of S.Res. 133 and the strong message it sends in condemning hate crimes while encouraging local, State, and Federal law enforcement to investigate and prosecute vigorously the perpetrators of such crimes. “This goes a long way in sending the necessary message to the American people that Arab Americans, American Muslims, Sikh Americans, and South-Asian Americans should not be viewed with suspicion or subject to heightened government scrutiny because of their national origin or religion.” He added, “The government’s efforts to combat terrorism must focus on criminal or terrorist behavior, not ethnicity or religious affiliation.” ADC‘s newly released report, “Hate Crimes and Discrimination against Arab Americans, Sept 11, 2001 — October 11, 2002,” can be ordered from ADC or downloaded in PDF from ADC.org. The report documents how the Arab American community and others have been especially vulnerable to abuses in recent months.
S.Res. 133 was introduced by Senator Durbin (D-Illinois) and cosponsored by the following fourteen Senators: Biden (D-Delaware), Chambliss (R-Georgia), Cochran (R-Mississippi), Corzine (D-New Jersey). DeWine (R-Ohio), Feingold (D-Wisconsin), Feinstein (D-California), Kennedy (D-Massachusetts), Miller (D-Georgia), Pryor (D-Arkansas), Schumer (D-New York), Specter (R-Pennsylvania), Sununu (R-New Hampshire) and Voinovich (R-Ohio). Dr. Asali commended the essential role of ADC‘s members and supporters who wrote letters to their Senators asking them to cosponsor S.Res. 133.