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Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, voiced concern over rising Islamophobia and antisemitism during a May 20 committee hearing marking 25 years since the September 11 attacks, days after three people were killed at a mosque in San Diego.
“More than twenty years after 9/11 happened, Islamophobia in the U.S. has not gone away,” Krishnamoorthi said. “Just this weekend, we saw the horrific killing of three people at a San Diego Mosque.”
During the hearing, Krishnamoorthi asked witnesses whether they agreed that “Islamophobia and hate have no place in America,” drawing unanimous agreement.
Among those testifying was Jamil Jaffer, founder and executive director of the National Security Institute at George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School. Identifying himself as Muslim, Jaffer echoed concerns about rising religious hatred in the United States.
“As a Muslim, I don’t like Islamophobia,” Jaffer said. “We have seen a rise in both these trends — antisemitism and anti-Islamism — here in the United States.”
Jaffer added that “the same people who hate Jewish people hate Muslims just as much,” emphasizing that Americans are “stronger together than at each other’s throats.”
Krishnamoorthi also criticized rhetoric from elected officials that equates Muslims with terrorism and explicitly calls for “more Islamophobia.”
“Hate has no place in America and it’s counter to all of our values,” Krishnamoorthi said.
The congressman additionally expressed concern over the diversion of FBI counterterrorism resources to support immigration enforcement efforts.
“It was a surprise to me that the FBI diverted counterterrorism efforts like the JTTFs to support the president’s immigration agenda,” Krishnamoorthi said. “According to data acquired by Senator Warner of the Senate Intelligence Committee last October, nearly half — 45% — of FBI agents in major U.S. field offices were reassigned from counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and other work to aid ICE in its immigration efforts. And I think that’s just plain wrong. I think it makes us less safe as a country.”
Hate Crimes Commission Act Reintroduced
On May 19, Krishnamoorthi joined U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY), and Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) in reintroducing the Hate Crimes Commission Act, bipartisan bicameral legislation aimed at strengthening the nation’s response to hate crimes, improving reporting systems, and identifying strategies to prevent bias-motivated violence.
According to a statement, the legislation would establish a bipartisan United States Commission on Hate Crimes to examine factors contributing to hate crimes, barriers to accurate reporting, and evidence-based prevention strategies. The bill would also direct the Government Accountability Office to audit federal hate crime data collection systems.
“No one should have to live in fear because of who they are, how they worship, whom they love, or where they come from,” Krishnamoorthi said. “As hate-fueled violence and intimidation continue to threaten communities across our country, we need stronger tools to understand what is driving these attacks, improve reporting, and identify strategies that can help prevent future violence. The Hate Crimes Commission Act will help strengthen our response to hate crimes and better protect communities from acts of hate.”
“Our country was founded on the core principles of liberty, justice, and equality. Every American has the right to live freely and safely, regardless of their race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, or religion,” Gillibrand said. “The alarming rise in hate crimes over the last few years demands a comprehensive federal response — and that starts with the establishment of a commission to investigate hate crimes. This legislation would help protect communities and gather the data we need to prevent future violence, and I am determined to get it passed.”
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