Washington, DC | www.adc.org | September 11, 2015 – The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) assisted Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30) in drafting a resolution honoring victims of post-9/11 hate crimes. The resolution honors the victims of Islamophobic and anti-immigrant hate crimes, and also acknowledges the positive contributions of Arabs, South Asians, Sikhs, and Muslims to the United States.
Take Action: Click here to urge your Representative to co-sponsor and support the resolution honoring the victims of post-9/11 hate crimes.
ADC applauds Congresswoman Johnson for introducing the resolution on Wednesday, September 9 in the United States House of Representatives. ADC thanks Reps. Andre Carson (IN-7), Mike Honda (CA-17), and Paul Tonko (NY-20) for co-sponsoring the resolution.
Congresswoman Johnson stated,
“In the aftermath of 9/11, we saw a marked increase of violence misdirected at individuals within the Arab, South Asian, Sikh, and Muslim communities. In the first nine weeks following 9/11, there were over 700 documented cases of violent incidents targeting Arab Americans. On this day, I want to recognize the individuals who were unfairly targeted in post-9/11 violence. ”
Click here to view the resolution (H-Res. 413).
This resolution is an important step toward stopping the hate crimes that continue to plague our communities even 14 years after September 11, 2001. Just a day before the resolution was introduced, a Sikh man was a victim of a hate crime in Chicago. The assailant yelled racial slurs including, “Terrorist, go back to your country, Bin Laden!” In February of 2015, three Arab-American students were shot and killed while in their home in Chapel Hill, NC following a rise in anti-Arab and anti-Muslim rhetoric in the media.
Community Advisory:
ADC reminds community members to exercise caution and vigilance, particularly on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Arab, Muslim, Sikh, and South Asian American communities must take their safety seriously when they receive threats of violence to themselves or their relatives.
- If you are placed in physical danger because of your ethnicity, religion or national origin: Call the police (dial 911 in most communities), and/or click here to contact your local FBI office. It is the FBI’s job to investigate hate-motivated crimes and specific threats of violence. You can also report a hate crime to the FBI online using this form.
If you feel you have been a victim of a hate crime, please contact the ADC Pro Bono Legal Department at 202-244-2990 or legal@adc.org.