Senate Unanimously Approves Resolution Condemning Hate Crimes Against Sikhs

Washington, DC, May 23, 2003. On Thursday evening, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution offered by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) condemning bigotry and violence against Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, South-Asian Americans and Sikh Americans. The resolution was unanimously approved by the Senate.

"This is a proud moment, not just for Arab Americans, Muslims, South-Asian Americans and Sikhs, but for Americans of all religions, backgrounds and cultures. The Senate has spoken clearly and forcefully -- there should never be a place for this kind of hatred in
our country, but now, more than ever, we simply cannot allow prejudice to divide our nation," Durbin said.

Durbin noted that in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attacks and the war in Iraq, bias-motivated crimes, including violent physical assaults, against Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, Sikh Americans, and South-Asian Americans increased. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported that the number of anti-Muslim incidents rose 1600 percent from 2000 to 2001.

Just last week, Avtar Singh, a long-haul trucker who also happened to be a Sikh American, was shot and seriously wounded in Phoenix, Arizona. Police say he was apparently targeted because, as a religiously-observant Sikh, he was wearing a turban. Two men in a truck stop parking lot allegedly shouted racial slurs at Mr. Singh, then shot him twice in the stomach.

"History demonstrates that strong action condemning discrimination, such as we have taken in the Senate, can help to lessen prejudice and promote greater tolerance and understanding," said Durbin. "I hope this important message will be heeded by all Americans."

Durbin said his resolution does four important things - it recognizes that members of these communities greatly contribute to American society and serve honorably in the military and law enforcement, it urges respect for civil rights and civil liberties, it condemns bias-motivated crimes against members of these communities and it calls upon federal and local law enforcement to prosecute such crimes vigorously. Durbin introduced the hate crimes resolution with Sens. John Sununu (R-NH) and Russ Feingold (D-WI).