Schakowsky Statement on Attacks on Illinois Muslim Institutions

Washington, D.C. (August 14, 2012) — Today, Rep. Jan Schakowsky released the following statement after recent attacks on Muslim institutions in Illinois, including air rifle shots at the Muslim Education Center mosque in Morton Grove:

"I am relieved no one was injured after a man shot an air rifle at the Muslim Education Center mosque in Morton Grove or after an acid bomb was thrown into the window of a Muslim school in Lombard. However, Muslims in America should always feel safe and protected wherever they are. Sadly, acts of violence against American Muslim communities are too frequent. Even worse is that an environment of intolerance has been perpetuated by irresponsible and inflammatory statements made by elected officials locally and nationwide.

In the wake of the Sikh tragedy in Wisconsin, I called for respect for American values of freedom, equality, and tolerance for all cultures and faiths. Muslims as well as other cultural or religious groups should feel safe in their place of worship and their communities. More urgently than ever, we must adopt a zero-tolerance policy for threats against any community that undermine and violate the very essence of what our nation is about....

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