After days of intense deliberations, the U.S. House of Representative passed a resolution condemning anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and racism in what Congresswoman Ilhan Omar – whose accusation of allegiance to Israel – prompted the move – called the categorical condemnation of anti-Muslim bias a first from the chamber.
“Today is a historic day on many fronts. Its’ the first time we have voted on a resolution, condemning Anti-Muslim bigotry in our nation’s history,” Omar said in a joint statement along with two other Muslim members of the House Andre Carson and Rashida Tlaib.
The House Resolution 183 – which initially was intended as a rebuke to Ilhan Omar’s remarks alleging some American Jews’ dual loyalty –evolved to incorporate hate and discrimination against all American diverse communities as Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrestled with a firestorm over singling out Omar while ignoring other incidents of expressions of hate targeting Muslims and other communities.
Our nation is having a difficult conversation, but we believe this is great progress. pic.twitter.com/gSua9a8mki
— Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) March 7, 2019
The resolution “condemns anti-Muslim discrimination and bigotry against all minorities as contrary to the values of the United States; condemns the death threats received by Jewish and Muslim Members of Congress, including in recent weeks.”
It “encourages law enforcement and government officials to avoid conduct that raises the specter of unconstitutional profiling against anyone because of their race, religion, nationality, political, or particular social group, including the assignment of blame or targeting members of an entire religious group for increased suspicion, based on the conduct of a single individual or small group of individuals; and encourages all public officials to confront the reality of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism, and other forms of bigotry, as well as historical struggles against them, to ensure that the United States will live up to the transcendent principles of tolerance, religious freedom, and equal protection as embodied in the Declaration of Independence and the first and 14th amendments to the Constitution.”
The broad also “rejects attempts to justify hatred or violent attacks as an acceptable expression of disapproval or frustration over political events in the Middle East or elsewhere; acknowledges the harm suffered by Muslims and others from the harassment, discrimination, and violence that result from anti-Muslim bigotry.”
It “rejects the perpetuation of anti-Semitic stereotypes in the United States and around the world, including the pernicious myth of dual loyalty and foreign allegiance, especially in the context of support for the United States-Israel alliance; condemns anti-Semitic acts and statements as hateful expressions of intolerance that are contradictory to the values that define the people of the United States.”
The resolution notes that “anti-Muslim bigotry entails prejudicial attitudes towards Muslims and people who are perceived to be Muslim, including the irrational belief that Muslims are inherently violent, disloyal, and foreign” and that “Muslims and people perceived to be Muslim are subjected to false and dangerous stereotypes and myths including unfair allegations that they sympathize with individuals who engage in violence or terror or support the oppression of women, Jews, and other vulnerable communities.”
The measure makes note of the incidents against Islamic places of worship pointing out that “in 2017, mosques were bombed in Bloomington, Minnesota, and burned in Austin, Texas, Victoria, Texas, Bellevue, Washington, and Thonotosassa, Florida, and mass attacks on Muslim communities were planned against communities in Islamberg, New York, in 2019, Jacksonville, Florida, in 2017, and Garden City, Kansas, in 2016; Whereas the Federal Bureau of Investigation reported that hate crimes against Muslims or Muslim institutions in the United States increased by over 99 percent between 2014 and 2016.”
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS – TO BE UPDATED
