Civil and Human Rights Coalition: King Hearing “An Affront to American Values”

Washington, DC – Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement commenting on today’s hearing hosted by House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King on the “radicalization” of American Muslims:

“The suggestion that American Muslims are somehow less committed to the security of the country where many were born and where they live, work and raise their children – simply by virtue of their faith – is an affront to American values and to every person of faith in America.

We recognize that Rep. King, as chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, has the authority to set the committee’s agenda and to determine the topics of its hearings. Yet, even a Chairman’s power should be tempered by common sense and common decency; and in that regard, Peter King has gone a step too far. 

America broadly rejected the premise of today’s hearing, which was opposed by an unprecedented coalition of interfaith and civil and human rights groups, as well as national security experts, affected communities, and many of Chairman King’s colleagues. 

As Rep. Ellison testified, ‘ascribing the evil acts of a few individuals to an entire community is wrong; it is ineffective; and it risks making our country less secure.’  This hearing feeds into the false but persistent belief that through racial profiling – which includes profiling based on religion — we can predict criminal behavior and identify those who seek to do us harm.   

The conversation about our country’s security is serious and demands thoughtful solutions, not divisive rhetoric. That’s why The Leadership Conference has urged Chairman King to either cancel or dramatically reframe the scope of this hearing, and why he should do so now with the remaining hearings he’s proposed on this topic.

The civil and human rights community will continue advocate for fairness for American Muslims in the face of bigotry.”

Wade Henderson is the president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

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