US Politics Video: Rep. Keith Ellison on "Radicalisation of American Muslims"
Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 21:07Today the House of Representatives' Homeland Security Committee, chaired by Peter King (R - New York), opened hearings on "radicalisation of American Muslims".
This is the testimony of Representative Keith Ellison (D - Minn.), the first Muslim elected to the US Congress. Trying to keep his composure, he concluded:
Let me close with a story, but remember that it's only one of many American stories that could be told. Mohammed Salman Hamdani was a 23-year-old paramedic, a New York City police cadet and a Muslim American. He was one of those brave first responders who tragically lost their lives in the 9/11 terrorist attacks almost a decade ago....
After the tragedy, some people tried to smear his character solely because of his Islamic faith. Some people spread false rumors and speculated that he was in league with the attackers only because he was Muslim. It was only when his remains were identified that these lies were fully exposed. Mohammed Salman Hamdani was a fellow American who gave his life for other Americans. His life should not be defined as a member of an ethnic group or a member of a religion, but as an American who gave everything for his fellow citizens.
That passage will rightly get attention, but along the way Ellison also made telling points: "Ascribing the evil acts of a few individuals to an entire community is wrong; it is ineffective; and it risks making our country less secure", and "The best defense against extremist ideologies is social inclusion and civic engagement."
FULL TRANSCRIPT OF TESTIMONYThank you Chairman King for allowing me to testify today. Though the Chairman and I sometimes disagree, including on the premise of this hearing, I appreciate his willingness to engage in this dialogue. I also thank Ranking Member Bennie Thompson for his commitment to homeland security and civil rights for all. It’s a challenge to protect both security and liberty, but Congressman Thompson strikes the right balance.