After Attending Friday Prayer Services, Norton Calls for Americans to Stand in Solidarity with Muslim Americans

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today gave remarks at a press conference after attending prayer services at Dar Al-Hijrah, a local Northern Virginia Mosque, to show her support for Muslim Americans in the wake of rising Islamophobia and attacks against Muslim communities and mosques.

Norton's full remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below.

"One might ask what a small band of Members of Congress can do to counter indiscriminate bigotry against Muslim Americans. After all, 31 governors – more than half in the governors in the United States – have declared Syrian refugees to be persona non grata, even though those who survive the grueling, exhaustive federal vetting process are mostly children and women, and others with family members already here.

"What can we do when the loudest voices preaching Islamophobia are amplified daily? The three of us would have to concede not much, although we know of many more Members who would have joined us today had Congress not adjourned yesterday, and many are attending services at mosques in their home districts.

"Still, the question remains what can we do about the irrationally negative views of Islam and Muslims that have grown since 9/11 until today, when Americans with negative opinions about Islam have doubled in number.

"I am not at all sure, but I know what it means to belong to a minority group, and I know we must not leave Muslims, who are only about 3% of the American population, alone. We in the Congress represent millions of Americans, who would join us in saying Muslim Americans and refugees are not alone. Moreover, there is evidence in recently passed law that speaks for the American people to show that Muslims in our country are not alone.

"I have gotten two profiling provisions through the Congress that I believe speak for the American people. Just yesterday, my provision was included in the Surface Transportation reauthorization providing annual grant funding for states to collect profiling data. A prior provision that was more comprehensive resulted in grants for half of the states. Today, 30 states have anti-profiling laws. In June, my anti profiling amendment barring the use of federal funds by police to stop people on federally funded highways based on physical attributes was passed unanimously on the House floor as part of the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development appropriation. I also got this same amendment included in last year's appropriation. Because appropriation bills and language last for only one year, I have had to introduce this profiling language annually. Now, to make the provision permanent, I have written to the Department of Transportation asking the agency to draft permanent regulations based on the congressionally passed profiling amendment.

"The police may know of these profiling laws, but most Americans today know more about anti-Muslim rhetoric. It will take more than laws to stem the bigotry that brings us to this mosque today. American anti-Muslim rhetoric is marketed here and worldwide as a central ingredient of ISIL's recruiting efforts. Showing solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters is the best defense for all of us."