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Congressmen denounce anti-Muslim smears
Feb. 23, 2004 - American Muslim civil rights groups today thanked Sen. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) and Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) for their repudiation of Rep. Peter T. King's (R-NY) recent allegation that "85 percent" of American Muslim community leaders are "an enemy living amongst us" and that "no (American) Muslims" cooperate in the war on terror.
Rep. King first made those claims February 9th on Sean Hannity's nationally-syndicated radio program and later repeated the accusations in media.
Sen. Corzine and Rep. Pascrell repudiated King's remarks at an event for Muslim community leaders on Feb. 21 in Teaneck, N.J.
Rep. Pascrell challenged King's claim that the vast majority of mosque leaders are extremists. He said the accusation is "not true." "In town after town, we know that Muslims are great Americans," said Pascrell.
At the same event, Sen. Corzine said: "It is outrageous to believe that 80 to 85 percent of mosques are (run by extremists). This is just not representative of what we see."
The American Muslim Voice expressed its thanks and appreciation of Senator Corzine and Congressman Pascrell for repudiation of King’s malicious statements. The AMV called upon all fellow Americans to join the nation’s Muslim community in rejecting King’s hate filled, bigoted and inflammatory remarks against Muslim Americans.
"We thank Senator Corzine and Congressman Pascrell for coming to the defense of the American Muslim community at this critical time," said CAIR-NJ Board Member Saladin Mustafa. "Congressman King's smears only serve to cast suspicion on all American Muslims and to create divisions between faiths." Mustafa called on other political and religious leaders to similarly repudiate King's defamatory comments.
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