Attorney General John Ashcroft Remarks at Muslim/Arab/Sikh Groups Meeting

(Says DoJ committed to combating post-terrorism discrimination)

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft told leaders of the Sikh, Muslim and Arab communities in the United States that attacks and threats " against people of Arab, Middle Eastern or South Asian descent, or against those who practice the Islamic faith, will not be tolerated."

Speaking in Washington October 16, Ashcroft said the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division has established an initiative to combat post-terrorism discrimination and more than 170 investigations of hate crimes have been launched.

Following is the text of Ashcroft's remarks:

It is testimony to the compassion and decency of the American people that virtually simultaneously with learning of the attacks of September 11, voices began to be raised cautioning citizens not to turn their anger and outrage over the terrorist acts against Arab-Americans and people of the Muslim faith. Americans overwhelmingly heeded this message.

In many cases, individuals have reached out to Muslims and others to reassure them that they are still welcome and valued members of their communities. I spoke with old friends today in the Muslim and Sikh community. They echoed what the vast majority of Americans understand. The nation has suffered a grave loss. Those who would express their anger through ethnically or religiously motived attacks would only compound our loss.

As President Bush, FBI Director Mueller and I have said on numerous occasions, vigilante attacks and threats against people of Arab, Middle Eastern or South Asian descent, or against those who practice the Islamic faith, will not be tolerated. Such senseless acts of brutality violate federal law, and they run counter to the very principles of equality and freedom upon which our nation is founded. They are un-American.

I am thankful to the representatives of the Arab-American, Muslim and Sikh communities who have taken the time to share their ideas and concerns with us here today. The Department of Justice is strongly committed to investigating and prosecuting violators of the federal hate crime laws.

We have established in the Civil Rights Division an initiative to combat post-terrorism discrimination by ensuring that allegations of violence or discrimination are addressed promptly and effectively.

Working in tandem, the Civil Rights Division, FBI, and U.S. Attorneys' offices have opened over 170 hate crime investigations -- cases involving killings, shootings, death threats, assaults, and the destruction of mosques. Two of the U.S. Attorneys involved in these prosecutions are with us today. Francis "Jerry" Diskin, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington and Paul Warner, U.S. Attorney for Utah.

Let there be no mistake: the Department of Justice will not tolerate acts of violence or discrimination against people in this country based on their national origin, religion, or race.

In addition to the Arab-American, Muslim and Sikh representatives here today, I am pleased to be joined by:

Ralph Boyd, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights; Jonathan Chase, Acting Director, Community Relations Service; Bob Jordan, Section Chief, Integrity in Government & Civil Rights, Criminal Investigation Division, FBI

Thank you.

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)