21 September 2001

Feingold Urges Support for Resolution Against Bigotry

Senator Russell Feingold (Democrat of Wisconsin) urged fellow lawmakers in a September 21 speech to the Senate to support House Concurrent Resolution 227 (H. Con. Res. 227), which condemns bigotry against Arab, Muslim, and South Asian Americans.

The House of Representatives passed H. Con. Res. 227 by unanimous consent in the early hours of September 15, four days after more than 6,000 men, women, and children were killed in the largest terrorist attack in the history of the world.

The Senate received the resolution September 19 and referred it to the Committee on the Judiciary.

"No one should doubt the resolve of this Nation to meet the challenge before us in fighting terrorism," said Feingold, who is chairman of the Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution, Federalism, and Property Rights.

His subcommittee oversees civil rights enforcement.

The Wisconsin lawmaker cautioned that as Americans "continue to wrestle with deep and conflicting emotions of sadness, pain, anger, and fear, we must ensure that the spirit of America, that ability to transcend differences in race, religion, and ethnicity to achieve greatness, is not only preserved, but strengthened as a result of this tragedy."

America, he said, "has always triumphed when we are united. That is why it is so important in this chapter in our history, as we prepare to defend and preserve our Nation, that we stay united as one Nation."

The terrorist attacks, Feingold added, "should not be an occasion for irrational impulses of fear, hate or violence towards Arab-Americans, Muslim Americans, South Asian Americans, or any other person in this country."

Feingold, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on Africa, related an incident in Wisconsin in which an American of Jordanian descent, Ashraf Khaled, was harassed in "several incidents of hateful statements and threats of his safety by customers and passerby."

Khaled, Feingold said, "reminded us of why our country is so great and why these actions of hatred can be so damaging. He said, 'I love this country because I found my freedom here.'"

Following is the text of Feingold's September 21 speech from the Congressional Record:

Condemning Bigotry And Violence Against
Arab, Muslim And South Asian Americans
Senate
September 21, 2001

Mr. FeinGold. Madam President, I rise to join with my colleagues in support of H. Con. Res. 227 condemning bigotry and violence against Arab, Muslim, and South Asian Americans.

I am sincerely grateful for and proud of the tremendous response of the American people who have shown true courage and loyalty in the face of the horrific attacks on our country on September 11, 2001. No one should doubt the resolve of this Nation to meet the challenge before us in fighting terrorism. But as we continue to wrestle with deep and conflicting emotions of sadness, pain, anger, and fear, we must ensure that the spirit of America, that ability to transcend differences in race, religion, and ethnicity to achieve greatness, is not only preserved, but strengthened as a result of this tragedy.

As history has shown, America has always triumphed when we are united. That is why it is so important in this chapter in our history, as we prepare to defend and preserve our Nation, that we stay united as one Nation. This should not be an occasion for irrational impulses of fear, hate or violence towards Arab-Americans, Muslim Americans, South Asian Americans, or any other person in this country. Such actions are wrong. The idea of ``America'' knows no racial, ethnic, or religious boundaries, and no American should have to live in fear as a result of this situation. I stand together with my colleagues, and with Americans of all backgrounds, in condemning such actions. We must renew our commitment to protect our fellow Americans and our Nation against those who want to divide us with hate.

Unfortunately, there has been a rash of acts of hate during the last week, compounding the anxiety of Americans in communities throughout this Nation. I have been saddened to hear of incidents in my own State. Ashraf ``Mike'' Khaled, a Wisconsin resident of Jordanian descent and gas station owner, has been the victim of several incidents of hateful statements and threats of his safety by customers and passerby. He reminded us of why our country is so great and why these actions of hatred can be so damaging. He said, "I love this country because I found my freedom here."

This is a critical moment for America. One in which we must all live by and honor our Pledge to live as "One Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."