September 19, 2012

Today, MPAC will attend the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on “Hate Crimes and the Threat of Domestic Terrorism.” Convened by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, this crucial event was spurred, in part, by the recent shooting of Sikh Americans in Oak Creek, WI.

The hearing is open to the public and will be
at the Senate Hart Office Building, Room 216, at 2:30 p.m. EST.
The hearing will be streamed live on the Judiciary Committee’s website.

The hearing is a result of more than 150 organizations who, led by The Sikh Coalition, joined forces to send a letter urging Congress to investigate the rise of domestic terrorism. MPAC, along with a number of other faith-based, civic and advocacy organizations, submitted testimony urging Congress to highlight, combat and document the rise of hate crimes against minority American communities.

SEE: Hate Crimes and the Threat of Domestic Terrorism

ALSO SEE: Statement of Record Submitted by MPAC for the Hearings (mpac.org)  

Following the hearing, a number of faith leaders, advocates and community members will host a brief press conference outside the Senate Hart Office Building to outline the next steps needed. Along with Durbin, the press conference will include Haris Tarin, Director of MPAC’s Washington, DC, office, and Amardeep Singh , Director of Programs of The Sikh Coalition.

“Hate crimes directed against any one community are an attack against all Americans,” Tarin said. “MPAC strongly encourages people of conscience to attend the hearing and press conference in order to effectively show Congress the importance of these hearings. This is just the first step in a long conversation we are finally having about this growing problem.”

MPAC commends the Senate Judiciary Committee for holding this hearing during a time when hate crimes have increased and we need to direct our efforts to the danger of hate groups and violent extremism.

The hearing will reference a 2009 Department of Homeland Security report, which highlighted the “significant domestic political threat” posed by hate groups such as “white supremacist lone wolves.”