Resolution Condemning White Supremacist Terrorism
On April 9, 2019 Congressman Malinowski introduced a Resolution condemning white supremacist terrorism and the anti-immigrant rhetoric that inspires it. The bill addresses the deadly white supremacist attacks on Jewish and Muslim communities that have been motivated by virulent anti-immigrant propaganda.
The gunmen responsible for the terrorist attacks against a synagogue in Pittsburgh and a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand both echoed white supremacist rhetoric claiming that immigrants are “invading” the United States and other Western countries. This resolution condemns that baseless allegation and the leaders who repeat and propagate it, while recognizing that immigration has strengthened the United States.
To reinforce the opposition to this vile rhetoric, the “whereas” clauses of the resolution are taken entirely from President Ronald Reagan’s final speech as president, in which he extolled the benefits of immigration to the United States.
“It is time to take the transnational threat of white supremacist terrorism as seriously as we’ve rightly taken the threat posed by other international terrorist organizations. It is time to give our law enforcement and intelligence agencies the mandate and resources they need to keep us safe from this threat. And it is time to stop tolerating words spoken by any political leader that echo the propaganda of terrorists that immigration poses some intrinsic threat to our society. Those words are not only cruel. Those words can kill,” said Congressman Tom Malinowski.
“Too often in recent memory, horrific acts of violence and terror have been carried out by avowed white supremacists inspired by anti-immigrant rhetoric and propaganda. However, these events are not anything new; they carry with them a long history of hatred that has festered in this country. This hatred is now emboldened more than it had been for generations, and we are witnessing its horrific consequences” said Congressman Elijah E. Cummings. “I am proud to stand with my colleagues as we condemn this hateful violence and propaganda, and I pledge to continue to work to ensure that those responsible for white supremacist violence are held to account and brought to justice.”
“We cannot ignore the rise in extremist violence in our country and around the world. Rather, we must acknowledge the hateful motivations behind the recent spate of deadly attacks committed by white supremacists. Our nation must take these threats seriously and invest the necessary federal resources to prevent them,” said Congressman Ted Deutch.
“We must confront hate and put a stop to the spread of disinformation that only serves to divide us. Unfortunately, white supremacist and hate-filled rhetoric and attacks built on these ugly sentiments have become all too common. This resolution is another step toward combatting hate that leads to violence, and I am proud to cosponsor it,” said Congresswoman Nita Lowey.
“White nationalist terrorism poses a clear threat here in the United States and around the world. I’m proud to join Representative Malinowski in condemning this horrific ideology that has resulted in so much vile, hate-filled violence. As Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I’ll continue working on ways to combat the scourge of white supremacy anywhere it exists,” said Congressman Eliot Engel.
The bill had over 60 original co-sponsors including: Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Mark Takano (D-CA) Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Debbie Wasserman-Shultz (FL-CA), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Joseph Morelle (D-NY), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), David Trone (D-MD), Gilbert Ray Cisneros (D-CA), Katie Porter (D-CA), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Dean Philips (D-MN), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Denny Heck ( (D-WA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Colin Allred (D-TX), Ron Kind (D-WI), Lori Trahan (D-MA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Sean Casten (D-IL), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), TJ Cox (D-CA), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY), Katie Hill (D-CA), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), James McGovern (D-MA), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Jason Crow (D-CO), Hank Johnson Jr. (D-GA), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Jeff Van Drew (D-NJ), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Andre Carson (D-IN), Harley Rouda (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), Jim Cooper (D-TN), Debra Haaland (D-NM) and Danny Davis (D-IL).