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Bonior Denounces "Hateful Prejudice" Against Muslims and Arabs
WASHINGTON, Sept 13 (IslamOnline) - As reactions around the country to Tuesday's devastating terrorist attacks continue to unfold, American media and leaders have been swift in denouncing the widespread backlash against Muslims and Arabs around the country.
In particular, many Muslims look to U.S. officials who have been known to speak out for Arab-Americans and Muslim Americans, including Congressman David Bonior (D-Mich.), whose constituency includes one of the largest Arab-American populations in the country.
Bonior issued a statement on the floor of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, adding his voice to those of the other government officials and media who are reporting an anti-Muslim backlash and urging Americans to restraint.
"I come from Michigan, home to hundreds of thousands of Arab-Americans and American Muslims," Bonior said. "Already, leaders of the community there - patriotic Americans who every day give so much to this country, who have condemned these attacks, and who are as sickened by the carnage as everyone else - have been getting death threats.
"Such hateful prejudice offends us all."
Bonior is well-known in the American Muslim community for his vocal condemnation of the use of secret evidence, primarily against Arabs and Muslims held under suspicion of supporting terrorism.
His strong stance against anti-Muslim and anti-Arab prejudice was highlighted this summer when an Arab Muslim student intern at his White House office was kicked out of a White House meeting of Muslim leaders.
The student, Abdullah al-Arian, is the son of Sami al-Arian, a University of South Florida professor and outspoken critic of the use of secret evidence. Sami al-Arian's brother-in-law, Mazen al-Najjar, was detained for three years under secret evidence.
When Abdullah was "escorted" out of the White House without any explanation - though apologies were later offered from the president and the Secret Service - Muslim leaders walked out as well, and Bonior expressed his outrage at the incident.
A New York Times article quoted Bonior's statement after the incident: "There have been too many instances where Muslims have been stopped, harassed or discriminated against for no apparent reason. This happens in airports, on our highways, and now we see it happens in the [George W.] Bush White House."
Bonior was also present at the official ceremony unveiling the new "Eid" postage stamp at the annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America in Chicago over Labor Day Weekend. His remarks, alongside the speeches of other officials present, celebrated the step forward that the American Muslim community appeared to have made in becoming a more integral part of American society.
But the tragic events of Tuesday morning could lead America's growing acceptance of Muslims and Arabs several steps backward, and Bonior stated firmly in his statement that all Americans must work together to keep this from happening.
"Even as we struggle to clear away the rubble and charred wreckage, heal our wounds, mourn our dead and seek ultimate justice, Americans must also stand together against this bigotry," he said. "We're all in this together, Americans who share a common grief and outrage."
"All Americans of all faiths - Christians, Muslims and Jews - condemn this cowardly act of terrorism."
Bonior announced in August his candidacy for governorship of Michigan. He emphasized that as governor, he planned to involve Michigan's large Muslim and Arab community in his government, indicating that Muslims would be given the opportunity to work with policy as well as within the judiciary.
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