Political Quotes

“Three young college students went for a walk in Burlington, Vermont, during their Thanksgiving break: Hishem, Kinnaan, and Taahseen spoke Arabic to one another and wore keffiyehs. They were shot. Whether or not this meets the legal standard for hate crime, we know this was a hateful act. The recent rise in Islamophobia in this country has led to deadly violence. It is deeply disturbing and frightening. I want to be clear: Leaders in this very Chamber need to unequivocally denounce the rise of anti-Arab hate and Islamophobia. Words matter. We need to lead with our values--community and acceptance--rather than hatred and fear. No one should be targeted because of their ethnicity or their religion. It has no place in Vermont. It has no place anywhere. We all have a part to play. We need to speak up and stand with our Muslim neighbors and friends now. The eyes of the Nation are on Vermont, and we want to make it absolutely clear to Americans that we will stand against this kind of violence and hate. ____________________”