Washington, January 15, 2019 - National Sikh Campaign (NSC) welcomes the resolution passed by the U.S. Congress condemning white nationalism and white supremacy in the wake of public remarks by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), who expressed support for such hateful expressions.
The resolution by the Congress stated, “once again we reject White nationalism and White supremacy as hateful expressions of intolerance that are contradictory to the values that define the people of the United States.”
Dr. Rajwant Singh, Senior Advisor of NSC, said, “We are pleased that the political leadership of this country in Congress has spoken with clear language that racism and bigotry have no place in the American society.”
He further stated, “Our nation has recently witnessed massacres perpetrated by white supremacists in places of worship in Pittsburgh, South Carolina and Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Offensive remarks by Steve King provides encouragement to the bigots and racists in America and many have been motivated to resort to violence against minorities.”
Amritpal Singh, Chair of NSC, said, “The Sikh community was shaken to its core by the attack at Wisconsin Gurdwara in 2012 and we feel the pain felt by our brothers and sisters in other faith communities who have come under attack by the same philosophy. We have stood by our Jewish neighbors and friends during the very difficult period in the aftermath of Pittsburgh Synagogue shooting.”
Gurwin Singh Ahuja, Executive Director of NSC, said, “It is shocking and disgraceful that a responsible member of the House would act so irresponsibly and spew out insensitive and bigoted remarks. It sends a chilling signal to the entire nation”
He added "America AND Sikhism was founded on the belief that all people are created equal and it is important as Sikhs and as Americans we stay vigilant against those who perpetrate ideologies that are so fundamentally against the values of our faith and our country."
King’s offensive remarks has outraged most of the Americans -- King said in the interview published last week in the New York Times “White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive? Why did I sit in classes teaching me about the merits of our history and our civilization?”