Senate Passes Measure Decrying Bigotry Against Sikh-Americans

The United States Senate has approved by unanimous consent a resolution that states the liberty of all Americans, including Sikh-Americans, should be protected while law enforcement officials seek out the perpetrators of the September 11 terrorist attacks against America.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 74 (S. Con. Res. 74), approved October 18, declares that "in the quest to identify, locate, and bring to justice the perpetrators and sponsors of the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans, including Sikh-Americans, should be protected."

The resolution also condemns bigotry "and any acts of violence or discrimination against any Americans, including Sikh-Americans."

Senator Richard Durbin (Democrat of Illinois) introduced the resolution October 2. The resolution had 38 co-sponsors.

Following is the text of Senate Concurrent Resolution 74:

107th CONGRESS 1st Session S. CON. RES. 74

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas all Americans are united in condemning, in the strongest possible terms, the terrorists who planned and carried out the attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001, and in pursuing all those responsible for those attacks and their sponsors until they are brought to justice;

Whereas Sikh-Americans form a vibrant, peaceful, and law-abiding part of America's people;

Whereas approximately 500,000 Sikhs reside in the United States and are a vital part of the Nation;

Whereas Sikh-Americans stand resolutely in support of the commitment of our Government to bring the terrorists and those that harbor them to justice;

Whereas the Sikh faith is a distinct religion with a distinct religious and ethnic identity that has its own places of worship and a distinct holy text and religious tenets;

Whereas many Sikh-Americans, who are easily recognizable by their turbans and beards, which are required articles of their faith, have suffered both verbal and physical assaults as a result of misguided anger toward Arab-Americans and Muslim-Americans in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack;

Whereas Sikh-Americans, as do all Americans, condemn acts of hate and prejudice against any American; and

Whereas Congress is seriously concerned by the number of crimes against Sikh-Americans and other Americans all across the Nation that have been reported in the wake of the tragic events that unfolded on September 11, 2001: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That Congress--

(1) declares that, in the quest to identify, locate, and bring to justice the perpetrators and sponsors of the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans, including Sikh-Americans, should be protected;

(2) condemns bigotry and any acts of violence or discrimination against any Americans, including Sikh-Americans;

(3) calls upon local and Federal law enforcement authorities to work to prevent crimes against all Americans, including Sikh-Americans; and

(4) calls upon local and Federal law enforcement authorities to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law all those who commit crimes.

Passed the Senate October 18, 2001.

Attest:

Secretary.