Jayapal, Omar, Tlaib, Chu, Carson Introduce September 11th Congressional Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Judy Chu (CA-28) and André Carson (IN-07) today introduced a resolution recognizing the tragedy of the September 11th attacks, and the hatred, xenophobia, and racism that have plagued Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Sikh communities across America since the attack.

"On September 11th, 2001, we lost thousands of lives to the worst terrorist attack to ever happen on American soil. Nearly 3,000 lives were lost in the attack and more than 4,500 others have died since from related illnesses - this day irrevocably changed our country and its impact is still felt. As we mark this tragic day, we must also reflect on the lasting damages faced by Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Sikh communities in the aftermath," said Jayapal. "The murders of Balbir Singh Sodhi, Waqar Hassan, and Adel Karas in the days following the attack were shocking displays of hatred. Xenophobia and racism have no place in this country, and today we recognize the shared trauma that these communities faced as they experienced stigma, discrimination, and losses of liberty."

"Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Sikh communities have carried the double burden of mourning the horrific 9/11 attacks and subsequently being treated with suspicion and hostility in its aftermath," said Omar. "They were spied on, harassed, and painted as threats by their own government, all while facing hate and violence in their daily lives. That pain continues today. This resolution is about finally acknowledging those injustices and committing to ending the discriminatory policies that made them possible. No one should ever be targeted by their government because of who they are, how they pray, or where their family comes from."

"In the years since 9/11, our Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Sikh communities have endured persistent racism, xenophobia, and discrimination. It's long past time for our government to acknowledge the trauma it has and continues to inflict on our communities through the harmful policies, racial profiling, and unjust targeting of so many of our neighbors," said Congresswoman Tlaib. "The road to truth and reconciliation is long, but this resolution is the first step towards the justice and healing that our communities deserve."

"September 11th was a day of unspeakable tragedy. But in the aftermath of this tragedy, too many channeled that pain and anger into hate directed at Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Sikh communities. Twenty-four years later, these communities still face suspicion, violence, and government overreach that betray our nation's core promises of justice and equality. As we honor the lives lost on that day, we must also confront the discrimination that followed and ensure that no community is ever treated as suspect because of who they are or where they come from," said Rep. Judy Chu.

"Each year, the anniversary of 9/11 is a chance to reflect, especially for our first responders, their families, and all who witnessed that fateful day," said Congressman Carson. "We must also heal from the painful aftermath for the Muslim American community, who experienced a rise in hate crimes and discrimination - including hate against Muslim American first responders. This resolution calls for a community-based approach to reduce acts of hate, support Muslim Americans, and help our entire country continue to move forward."

The resolution puts forward a series of recommendations to support those affected by the hateful profiling and targeting that has occurred during the 20 years since the September 11 attack, including:

• Calling for the creation of an independent commission to work with community-based organizations to review government policies, investigate and document their impact, and provide recommendations to dismantle those policies that continue to profile and unfairly target these communities;
• Calling for hearings by congressional and civil rights bodies to explore the findings and recommendations of this independent commission in consultation with and centering community-based organizations;
• Supporting allocating resources to community-based organizations outside and independent of law enforcement that center the experiences and demands of Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Sikh communities to both support hate crime prevention and the needs of victims of hate and State violence, including language support, mental health, comprehensive support, system navigation, and crisis response and recovery; and create alternatives to law enforcement and transformative justice programs that are culturally and linguistically accessible and focus on vulnerable populations within these communities; and
• Calling on the National Institute of Health and the National Science Foundation to work together to study the impact of hate, government targeting, political rhetoric, and profiling on physical and mental health.

Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Sikh communities have long experienced discrimination and violence in the U.S., which intensified after the attacks. Just during the first month after the attack, community organizations documented 945 incidents of bias and hate against Americans perceived to be of Middle Eastern or South Asian descent. This climate of hate also led to bullying and violence in their everyday lives and in their workplaces, businesses, community centers, and houses of worship.

The government also targeted Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Sikh communities with overreaching policing, surveillance, and criminalization policies that resulted in wrongful interrogation, coercion, detention, deportation, arrest, and incarceration. Principles like due process, presumption of innocence, and evidence of wrongdoing were replaced with humiliation, mob mentality, and guilt by association. Border officials and government authorities also cast aside constitutional rights and engaged in discriminatory searches and seizures. Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and immigration authorities arrested and detained as many as 1,200 Muslims immediately after the September 11 attack, and none of these "special interest" detained people were ultimately indicted for terrorist activity. This hate and government targeting impacted the ability of these communities to exercise their constitutionally protected rights, including to organize, speak, travel, and worship freely.

The resolution is needed now more than ever, as Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and Sikh communities continue to experience rising discrimination and violence as a result of the Trump Administration's immigration policies and in the aftermath of the recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East.

In addition to the co-leads, this resolution is sponsored by Jim Costa (CA-21), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), and Lateefah Simon (CA-12).

It is endorsed by AAPI Equity Alliance; American Humanist Association; Arab American Institute; Alliance of South Asians Taking Action (ASATA); Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF); Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC; Asian Law Alliance; Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA); Asian Pacific Islanders Civic Action Network of Massachusetts (APIs CAN); AFL-CIO; Chinese for Affirmative Action; Coalition for Civil Freedoms (CCF); Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR); Defending Rights & Dissent; Friends Committee on National Legislation; Hindus for Human Rights; Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), Legacies of War; Muslim Civil Coalition; Muslim Advocates; Muslim Justice League; Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC); Muslims for Just Futures; National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA); National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD); National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC); National Iranian American Council (NIAC); OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates; Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus; Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign; Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF); South Asian Network; Stop AAPI Hate; Tending Futures; The Sikh Coalition; and United Church of Christ.

Issues: Civil Rights, Foreign Affairs & National Security