WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Japanese American Citizens League condemned the Aug. 5 bombing of a Bloomington, Minn., mosque as an act of terrorism and hate against a religious group, and in a statement said: “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 worshipping community.”
The Twin Cities JACL chapter has worked previously with the Muslim community in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
“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,” said Twin Cities Chapter President Amy Dickerson.
It is particularly poignant that this act of terror took place on the fifth anniversary of the Oak Creek, Wis., massacre of six Sikh worshippers preparing the day’s meal.
Like the Aug. 5 bombing, that event could have been much worse had the timing been different. An hour later, 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 chapter, please refer to its website at www.tcjacl.org.
