Benjamin Gilman: “Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise in support of House Resolution 343, legislation condemning the racist, anti-Catholic…”

“Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise in support of House Resolution 343, legislation condemning the racist, anti-Catholic, and anti-Semitic speech of Khalid Abdul Muhammad, a senior representative of the nation of Islam. This resolution denounces all forms of racial, religious, and ethnic intolerance and I commend the distinguished gentleman from California [Mr. Lantos], for introducing this resolution condemning bigotry and racism. Racial intolerance within our communities, ethnic violence around the world, and religious persecution are frightening examples of the devastating affects of bigotry and fanaticism. It is for this reason that many of us in this body have found Khalid Abdul Muhammad's remarks so reprehensible. Mr. Muhammad's rhetoric, made during his speech at Kean College on November 29, 1993, symbolized the hatred, contradicts the foundation of our great Nation, and threatens to destroy the very framework of our open society. By preaching hatred, we incite and condone violence; by moralizing intolerance, we tolerate racism and bigotry; and by relying upon hateful rhetoric, we validate racial stereotypes.”