Raja Krishnamoorthi leads bipartisan effort in urging Trump to stop hate crimes

WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi is leading the charge with a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers urging the Trump administration to step up efforts in combatting hate crimes against religious minorities and Indian-Americans in the US.

In a letter addressed to Department of Homeland Security, Krishnamoorthi and other lawmakers urge secretary John Kelly to act on the knowledge and use the resources of his department to combat both hate crimes and their root causes.

“From attacks on Indian-Americans to grave desecration at Jewish cemeteries, the recent rise in hate-motivated attacks is troubling to all Americans,” the letter, signed by nearly 70 members of Congress, said. Other Indian American members of congress Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal and Ami Bera also signed the letter.

“These attacks seek to undermine not just public safety, but the very nature of American exceptionalism. For more than two hundred years, the United States has stood as a beacon of freedom from tyranny, oppression, and persecution,” the letter said. “A fundamental promise of our nation is that any American – regardless of where you come from, the colour of your skin, or how you pray – can trust the federal government to preserve, protect, and defend their rights,” it added.

“We respectfully urge you to use the full powers of your office to stop further racially-motivated attacks and combat the roots of hatred and intolerance. We stand ready to work with you and all Americans to turn back this tide of hatred and protect the rights of every citizen.”

During a recent visit to a meeting of the Congressional Asia Pacific American Caucus, Kelly said, “one of the first things I noticed from the last administration is that there was not enough focus, in my view, on white supremacy organizations or hate organizations.”