New York, NY, October 7, 2003 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed approval by the U.S. House of Representatives of a resolution condemning bigotry and violence against Arab-Americans, South Asian-Americans, Muslim-Americans and Sikh-Americans. 

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

We welcome House passage of this Resolution, which reaffirms that hate-motivated violence is un-American and must be forcefully condemned.  This legislation is an important vehicle for community education.  

Now that both the House and Senate have acted to repudiate bias-motivated violence, we call upon Congress to complement their words with action through enactment of the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act.  

That measure, now pending before both houses of Congress, would enable the U.S. Department of Justice to assist local prosecutions and, where appropriate, investigate and prosecute cases in which bias violence occurs based on a victim's race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender or disability.

The League had written to Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House, in July, urging him to schedule floor action on the measure. The Senate approved similar legislation in May.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.