JACL Condemns Weekend Act of Terrorism Against Minnesota Mosque
The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) condemns the Saturday bombing of a Bloomington, Minnesota mosque as an act of terrorism and hate against a religious group. This is a clear affront to the rights of the Muslim community to worship in peace. We are grateful that there were no casualties, but that does not reduce the impact this act of terror has upon the worshiping community.
The Twin Cities JACL chapter has previously worked with the Muslim community in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Twin Cities chapter president Amy Dickerson states, “The Twin Cities JACL chapter supports the Muslim community in the face of increasing discrimination and hate. The Twin Cities JACL actively advocates the pursuit of global justice, civil liberties and human rights, hope, compassion, and love.”
It is particularly poignant that this took place on the fifth anniversary of the Oak Creek, Wisconsin massacre of six Sikh worshipers preparing the day’s meal. Like this past Saturday’s bombing, that event could have been much worse had the timing been different. An hour later, and the temple would have been filled with children attending classes.
The JACL stands proudly in support of the Muslim and Sikh communities and for the right of all Americans to worship peacefully and without the fear of attack from terrorism. We affirm the fundamental American right of worship and freedom of assembly as guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.
For more information about the Twin Cities JACL Chapter, please refer to their website at www.tcjacl.org.
Founded in 1929, the JACL is the oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization in the United States. The JACL monitors and responds to issues that enhance or threaten the civil and human rights of all Americans and implements strategies to effect positive social change, particularly to the Asian Pacific American community.