Hearing on Alleged Threats to Military Condemned as Biased and Inflammatory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Keith Rushing, Communications Manager, krushing@rightsworkinggroup.org
(P) 202-591-3305 (c) 557-4291
 
December 8, 2011, Washington, D.C. – Rights Working Group raises its collective voice to condemn the decision by Rep. Peter King (R-NY) and Sen. Leiberman (I-Conn.) to hold yet another hearing that unfairly targets and stereotypes the Muslim American community.
 
The House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs unfortunately set aside time Wednesday at the House Visitor Center for a joint hearing on “homegrown terrorism” and the alleged “threat to military communities inside the United States.”
 
As with the previous three House hearings organized by King this year, the hearing was lacking in serious analysis of potential terrorist threats and dangers facing this country, given the singular focus on people who practice Islam. The hearing singled out the Muslim community for suspicion and scrutiny. Muslims have been the victims of increased hate crimes in the aftermath of 9/11. Stereotyping and specious attacks of an entire faith community serve only to increase the likelihood of additional hate crimes.
 
In reference to the hearing, Margaret Huang, executive director of Rights Working Group, said: “By targeting the Muslim community in America for increased scrutiny, King is playing politics and wasting tax dollars rather than conducting effective oversight to ensure the Department of Homeland Security is effectively responding to the intelligence it gathers.”
 
In interviews, King claims there is an attempt by Muslim to infiltrate the military, which poses a threat to this country, yet he has not provided any evidence to support his theory.
 
“King and Leiberman are attempting to score political points with certain segments of the American public by pandering to stereotypes and instilling fear,” said Huang. “We urge them to put aside the fear mongering and divisive rhetoric.”
 

                                             ###
 
Formed in the aftermath of 9/11, Rights Working Group is a coalition of more than 320 community-based, grassroots and national organizations working to restore civil liberties and human rights protections for all people living in the U.S.