Press Releases

Today, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) and Congressman Hansen Clarke (D-Mich.) called for the federal government to take the necessary steps to counter anti-Muslim sentiment.

“We believe that this sense of Congress is a logical step toward sending the message that the American Muslim community should be able to enjoy the rights guaranteed under the Constitution to the same extent as all other Americans,”  said Conyers and Clarke.  “Communities should be protected from the threat of violence and suspicion that, for example, was at the heart of last January’s thwarted attack against the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Michigan. They should also be able to rely on law enforcement’s fundamental integrity and respect for First Amendments protected rights.

“Ultimately, the American Muslim community should be able to rely on the federal government to lead the effort in fostering an open climate of understanding and cooperation. Only through a balanced examination of the challenges facing the nation will we establish a strong policy framework for protecting security, while respecting the Constitution and the interests of affected communities.”   

Other co-sponsors include:  Carson (Ind.), Ellison (Minn.), Guitierrez (Ill.), Grijalva (Ariz.), McDermott (Wash.), Jackson-Lee (Texas), Johnson (Ga.), Honda (Calif.), Woolsey (Calif.), Baldwin (Wisc.), Towns (N.Y), Chu (Calif.), Scott (Va.), Stark (Calif.), Jackson (Ill.), Rangel (N.Y), Moran (Va.), Lofgren (Calif.), Polis (Colo.), Rush (Ill.), Green (Texas), Cummings (Maryland), Tonko (N.Y. ), Filner (Calif.).

###