Posted on 09/15/2012 5:47:12 PM PDT by Jyotishi
Cutting across party lines, a group of over 80 lawmakers has introduced a key resolution in the US House of Representatives, lauding contributions of the Sikh-American community and seeking for the first time documentation of hate crimes against them.
The resolution introduced by top Congressmen, including Joe Crowley and Howard Berman, yesterday condemned a slew of attacks against Sikhs and their religious institutions over the past year, including the August 5 gurdwara shooting at Oak Creek, Wisconsin, which killed six worshippers.
It came hours after the House passed a resolution introduced by Republican Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan condemning the Wisconsin gurdwara.
The new Congressional resolution gives fresh support to a public call for the Department of Justice to begin collecting comprehensive data on hate crimes committed against Sikhs.
In April, 93 members of Congress signed a letter urging the FBI to document and quantify the commission of hate crimes against Sikh-Americans.
"This resolution recognises that America is proud of the Sikh-American community, their hundred year history in this country and their countless achievements and contributions to the nation," Crowley said.
"Tragically, the brutal attack in Oak Creek and attacks over the previous year shed light on the ongoing threats faced by Sikh-Americans in the United States. Unfortunately, this was not a one-time event and what's clear is that there is a disturbing and violent trend that must be confronted and brought to an end," he said.
"While there is much more that must be done, this measure sends a strong signal that Congress stands behind the Sikh-American community and that we must take greater strides in working to prevent crimes against Sikhs. That includes documenting hate crimes against Sikhs, something which has not happened in the past," he added. Honouring the memory of six Sikh worshippers killed by a white supremacist in Wisconsin gurdwara, Congressman Jerry McNerney praised the Sikh community's unified and peaceful response to this hateful attack.
"The Sikh community's unified and peaceful response to this hateful attack demonstrates the resilient spirit of the Sikh people. They have shown the world their love of peace, and it is my hope that we can all learn from the Sikh community in the wake of this tragedy," McNerney said in the House yesterday.
"In this great country, there is no room for the prejudice, intolerance and stereotypes that perpetuate hate acts and hate language. I stand beside the Sikh people as they continue to have the strength and dignity to be proud of their long heritage," he said.
To show such grace when faced with such a senseless act of violence is a true testament of their honourable culture, the Congressman said.
"Mr Speaker, today I rise to ask my colleagues to join me in honouring the memory of the six Sikh Americans shot and killed in a senseless act of violence on August 5, 2012. Bhai Seeta Singh, Bhai Parkash Singh, Bhai Ranjit Singh, Satwant Singh Kaleka, Subegh Singh, and Parmjit Kaur Toor were slain without regard to human dignity or the sanctity of life."
McNerney said the Americans stand in solidarity with the Sikh community, as violence against any group is unacceptable.
Ed Royce, who co-sponsored the resolution introduced by Ryan condemning the Wisconsin gurdwara shooting, said that America is rooted in religious tolerance.
"The Constitution makes freedom of religion first and foremost. There is no place in this country for religion-motivated terrorism, and this resolution that we passed reaffirms that," Royce said.
"In a strange coincidence, I had a previously scheduled meeting in California at a Sikh temple on the very day when that murderous attack in Oak Creek occurred. Obviously, our discussion shifted to the subject of that premeditated attack. I was able to hear about the plight of being targeted because of one's religion, the plight of being targeted for one's appearance," he said.
"We are in a constant struggle against bad ideas, despicable ideas. Passing this resolution will not ease the pain of those affected by this tragedy, but it does show to the world that people from across the United States can unite and denounce bigoted violence," Royce said.
How about this. How about we don’t manufacture artificial divisions and simply treat ALL crimes as “hate crimes”.
without regard to human dignity or the sanctity of life???
I'm speechless. Then top that off with the "Freedom of Speech" comment. How do we fight this hypocritical idiocracy?
Exactly. Or treat all crimes as crimes.
This statement severely understates the gravity of the harm inflicted on this innocent victims.
They weren’t just killed. They were killed dead.
Not killed DEAD! Why there ought to be a law...
Pandering jackasses.
I want a resolution for all the American wives beheaded by psychotic adherents of Islam.
I want a resolution for all the American children raped by Mexican nationals.
I want a resolution for all the black, white, yellow, and red babies slaughtered daily through abortion.
I want a resolution for the effectively anonymous American moviegoers slaughtered by depraved white males.
I want a resolution for all the young white couples raped and brutally murdered by marauding gangs of blacks.
I want a resolution for the young black males gunned down by reckless law enforcers.
And I want a resolution for all the military members shackled by the absurd and deadly rules of engagement.
Get over yourselves, you political jackasses.
All crimes are hate crimes. Please. You have to hate to hurt other people without just cause. It is the opposite of love your neighbor as yourself. Thus it’s hate. Thus all crimes are hate crimes.
So let’s end this terrible legal concept of “hate crimes”.
No, no, no, that is too simple minded.
We must have hate crime legislation specifically for every ethnic group in the US except for honkies.
Y’all congresscritters, get with the program.
No, no, no, that is too simple minded.
We must have hate crime legislation specifically for every ethnic group in the US except for honkies.
Y’all congresscritters, get with the program.
> This statement severely understates the gravity of the harm
> inflicted on this innocent victims.
> They weren’t just killed. They were killed dead.
Drama, as in:
Bin Laden–The KILLER SCUM IS DEAD!!! THANK GOD ALMIGHTY!! (via Lorinov’s Blog)
Posted on May 2, 2011
————————BREAKING NEWS—–FLASH————————— Al Qaeda Leader Osama bin Laden has been KILLED DEAD in Islamabad, Pakistan at a mansion he was in there! The GOD BLESSED killing of this piece of...
Hate crime laws are stupid. Enforce the law on the books already. If someone is convicted of 1st degree murder, then that person should get the death penalty regardless to whether he or she was a bigot or not.
On a different matter, does anyone have a link or know the results of the investigation into the shooting? I am a curious if the shooter was angry at this particular group, had mistaken animosity (ie. not the group he thought it was), or just had a general dislike of people not like himself. I know the media claimed he was active in supremacist groups, so I suppose it could have been a combination of all three reasons.
When will the FBI start tallying death threats by and assaults by abortion supporters against pro-life Christians?
Politicians these days never seem to miss a chance to pander to any and all identifiable minority groups.
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