Senate Joint Resolution
No. 13
CHAPTER 73
Relative to equal treatment of Americans.
[
Filed with
Secretary of State
July 23, 1991.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SJR 13, McCorquodale.
Arab Americans: equal treatment.
This measure would memorialize the President and the Congress of the United States to pass House Concurrent Resolution 56 which expresses the sense of Congress that federal agencies should not engage in discrimination that threatens the civil liberties of Arab Americans and should assist in protecting Arab Americans from hate crimes and related discrimination.
Digest Key
WHEREAS, The United States, in conjunction with Arab and European allies, unleashed a massive bombing attack on Iraqi armed forces in Iraq and occupied Kuwait on January 16, 1991; and
WHEREAS, Thousands of Americans of Arab descent live in the United States as American citizens; and
WHEREAS, Many Iraqi Americans now residing in the United States fled the brutality and persecution instigated by the Hussein regime; and
WHEREAS, Many Americans of Arab descent have fought in the United States armed forces against Iraq; and
WHEREAS, Hate crimes and other forms of physical harassment of Arab Americans have increased at an alarming rate since the beginning of the Iraq-Kuwait Crisis; and
WHEREAS, In response to increased concerns about terrorism in the United States, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has reportedly conducted “interviews” and investigations in the Arab-American community based on the ethnicity or national origin of Arab Americans and without reasonable cause; and
WHEREAS, The activities of the Federal Bureau of Investigation have unfairly aroused suspicion of Arab Americans and encouraged hate crimes against Arab Americans; and
WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States is considering passage of House Concurrent Resolution 56, which expresses the sense of Congress that federal agencies should not engage in discrimination that threatens the civil liberties of Arab Americans and should assist in protecting Arab Americans from hate crimes and related discrimination.
Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of California, jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California supports equal treatment of all Americans, regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion; and be it further
Resolved, That this Legislature condemns any form of physical or emotional harassment of Arab Americans and other groups; and be it further
Resolved, That federal agencies should assist in protecting Arab Americans from hate crimes and related discrimination; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of California respectfully memorializes the President and the Congress of the United States to pass House Concurrent Resolution 56; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.