26 September 2001

President Bush Welcomes American Sikh Leaders to White House

Tells Them "We Are All Americans"

President Bush welcomed leaders of the American Sikh community to the White House on September 26, telling them, "We're all Americans, bound together by common ideals and common values."

Sixteen Sikh leaders from all over the United States met with the president.

To reassure the Sikh community following the killing of an American Sikh in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks, President Bush said the U.S. government "will do everything we can to not only bring those [the killers] people to justice, but also to treat every human life as dear, and to respect the values that made our country so different, so unique."

The meeting closed with a Sikh prayer, led by Dr. Rajwant Singh.

Following is the text of remarks by the President.

Remarks by the President in Meeting with Sikh Community Leaders

THE PRESIDENT: It's my honor to welcome citizens from all across our country here to the Roosevelt Room and the White House to discuss our common commitment to make sure that every American is treated with

respect and dignity during this period of -- during any period, for that matter, of American history, particularly during this time.

An American Sikh has been killed, unjustly so. These citizens bring

their hearts with them, and I can assure them that our government will do everything we can to not only bring those people to justice, but also to treat every human life as dear, and to respect the values that made our country so different and so unique. We're all Americans, bound together by common ideals and common values.

So I want to welcome you all here. I'm honored that you're here in the White House, and I look forward to a good, frank discussion. Thank you for coming.