ADC Press Release:
ADC Calls on Congressional Leaders to Censure Cong.
Steve King
Washington, DC | March 11, 2008 | www.adc.org | The American-Arab
Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) calls on Congressional leaders to censure
Congressman Steve King (R-IA) for racist comments he made about presidential
candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL). Congressman King is the ranking Republican
member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship,
Refugees, Border Security and International Law.
On an Iowa radio station last Saturday, Congressman King said, “if [Obama] is
elected president, then the radical Islamists and their supporters will be
dancing in the streets in greater numbers than they did on September 11 because
they will declare victory in this War on Terror.” King continued his
Islamophobic commentary by saying, “[Obama's] middle name does matter...because
they read a meaning into that in the rest of the world...They will be dancing in
the streets because of his middle name [and] because of who his father was and
because of his posture that says: pull out of the Middle East and pull out of
this conflict."
King reiterated his comments yesterday in an interview with the Associated Press
saying, “[Obama will] certainly be viewed as a savior for them,” King told The
Associated Press, “That's why you will see them supporting him, encouraging
him.”
King’s comments suggest that Senator Obama is somehow linked with terrorism and
that his potential election would be cause for celebration among fanatical
extremists. He also raises questions and suspicions about Senator Obama's middle
name Hussein. ADC is deeply troubled by King’s fear promoting comments which are
part of an increasingly vicious pattern noted by ADC. ADC has found that
particularly malicious forms of anti-Muslim and anti-Arab bigotry are becoming
more prevalent in mainstream discourse and King’s comments are another example.
ADC National Executive Director Kareem Shora said, “King’s comments reflect the
ignorance of a bygone era and exemplify the hatred spewed by fanatics who were
rejected by our modern world and who have no place in our nation and in
Congress,” Shora said, “We call on Congressional leaders to publicly stand up to
the hateful rhetoric advocated by the likes of King. Republicans, Democrats, and
Independents in Congress must demonstrate their leadership and go on record in
censuring Congressman King for his racist stance and for defaming the image of
Congress and of our nation. By making these comments King is fanning the flames
of hatred and adding fuel to the fire of extremists everywhere.”
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NOTE TO EDITORS: The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), which is
non sectarian and non partisan, is the largest Arab-American civil rights
organization in the United States. It was founded in 1980, by former Senator
James Abourezk to protect the civil rights of people of Arab descent in the
United States and to promote the cultural heritage of the Arabs. ADC has 38
chapters nationwide, including chapters in every major city in the country, and
members in all 50 states.
The ADC Research Institute (ADC-RI), which was founded in 1981, is a Section
501(c)(3) educational organization that sponsors a wide range of programs on
behalf of Arab Americans and of importance to all Americans. ADC-RI programs
include research studies, seminars, conferences and publications that document
and analyze the discrimination faced by Arab Americans in the workplace,
schools, media, and governmental agencies and institutions. ADC-RI also
celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the Arabs.
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American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee | www.adc.org
1732 Wisconsin Ave., NW | Washington, DC | 20007
Tel: 202-244-2990 | Fax: 202-244-7968 | E-mail: media@adc.org