Update: September 11, 2003: This page is no longer updated and is presented here for archival purposes. No further action is requested at this time.

I am writing to urge you to act decisively against acts of retaliation in your state directed toward Muslims, Sikhs or persons of Middle Eastern and South Asian descent. As you know, since September 11, there have already been numerous reports of violent assaults, harassment, and threats against men, women and children targeted solely because of their religious beliefs, ethnicity or nationality. An urgent, vigorous response is required to stop these shameful acts.

During a two-week period following the September 11 attacks, monitoring groups received several hundred complaints alleging retaliatory attacks against Muslims, Arab Americans, South Asians and others. A shooting rampage in Mesa, Arizona, left one Sikh man dead, with additional shots fired at a Lebanese clerk and the home of an Afghan family. An Egyptian-American grocer was shot and killed near his store in San Gabriel, California and a storeowner from Pakistan was shot dead in Dallas, Texas.

Beatings and other violent assaults were reported across the country, as were death and bomb threats. At several U.S. universities, foreign students from the Middle East and South Asia have been targeted for attacks, and some have chosen to leave the country because they feared additional attacks. Mosques and Sikh temples have been shot at, vandalized, and defaced. Throughout the country affected community members have been afraid to leave their homes, go to work or wear traditional clothing for fear of possible hate crimes against them.

I ask you to join President Bush, New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and other officials who have called on the public to reject national or religious stereotyping that would blame whole communities for the appalling deeds of a few. During President Bush's visit to the Islamic Center in Washington D.C. on September 17, he stated, "those who feel like they can intimidate our fellow citizens to take out their anger don't represent the best of America, they represent the worst of humankind, and they should be ashamed of that kind of behavior."

The values of tolerance and respect for each other and the rule of law must be emphasized now. Public officials as well as civic and community leaders should act decisively and creatively during the coming months to affirm those values and to prevent further acts of retaliation. I urge to reach out to Muslim, Arab American and other communities vulnerable to reprisal and hate and personally to condemn attacks again them. I also ask that you take all steps possible to ensure that law enforcement officials provide protection for targeted businesses, houses of worship, groups and individuals, that they vigorously investigate any reports of criminal behavior against them, and that they hold accountable those found responsible.

The terrible events of September 11 constituted not only an attack on people and property - but also an attack on the very principles of human rights. As the nation forges its response to this outrage, it must uphold those cherished principles. That is the way to deny the perpetrators of the crimes of September 11 their ultimate victory.

Sincerely,