Hearing Slated on Muslims' Civil Rights
By CQ Staff
A top Senate Democrat announced plans Tuesday to hold a hearing March 29 on protecting the civil rights of Muslim Americans.
Assistant Majority Leader Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill., said the "first ever" hearing is in response to what he called "the spike in anti-Muslim bigotry in the last year including Koran burnings, restrictions on mosque construction, hate crimes, hate speech, and other forms of discrimination."
Aides denied any connection to Rep. Peter T. King's probe of "radicalization" within the Muslim community. [Really!]
Aides denied any connection to Rep. Peter T. King's probe of "radicalization" within the Muslim community. [Really!]
"Our Constitution protects the free exercise of religion for all Americans," Durbin said in a statement. "During the course of our history, many religions have faced intolerance.It is important for our generation to renew our founding charter's commitment to religious diversity and to protect the liberties guaranteed by our Bill of Rights."
Witnesses will include Assistant Attorney General Tom Perez, the Obama administration's top civil rights official; former Assistant Attorney General Alex Acosta, the Bush administration's top civil rights official; Muslim civil rights leader Farhana Khera; and Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.
The hearing is before the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, which Durbin chairs. The subcommittee's ranking Republican is Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
The hearing is before the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, which Durbin chairs. The subcommittee's ranking Republican is Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
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