Long Island Community to King: Cancel the Hearings
Rep. King’s upcoming hearings on Muslim ‘radicalization’ have already prompted criticism from fellow members of Congress, law enforcement officials and a coalition of national religious and rights groups–criticism King has defiantly shrugged off.
Now, residents of King’s home community of Long Island are joining these concerns. A new letter signed by over 80 faith and community leaders from the Long Island area objects to King’s singling out of the Muslim community and calls for an inclusive and fair dialogue instead:
Protecting our nation requires allegiance to the fundamental values that give life to our democracy. A commitment to pluralism and respect for diversity are strengths in the fight against terrorism. We agree that law enforcement must find practical solutions to stop terrorism, whether these threats come from religious or non-religious extremists. Muslim-Americans have consistently denounced terrorism and worked closely with law enforcement to prevent violence. Building and maintaining trust with the Muslim community is crucial to furthering this cooperation, and we fear your hearings will only sow greater distrust and division at a time when unity and moral courage are needed.
A more constructive approach to strengthening the bonds of trust that bolster our security and protect our values would be convening a dialogue among faith leaders, law enforcement and elected officials such as yourself. It is with a spirit of goodwill and sincere hope that we propose beginning such an initiative with you.
King’s intransigence in response to criticism so far has been fairly consistent. But perhaps hearing directly from constituents in his district will cause him to rethink his perspective.
Read the full letter here.
