Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)
WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), alongside Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), today introduced a House resolution condemning President Trump’s April 22 Truth Social amplification of a racist post by radio host Michael Savage attacking birthright citizenship. The post used derogatory language about India and China, questioned immigrants’ loyalty, and trafficked in harmful stereotypes targeting Indian Americans and Chinese Americans. The resolution also reaffirms that immigrants of all backgrounds are vital to the strength and future of the United States. The resolution comes amid rising anti-Asian hate and follows growing concern from civil rights advocates that rhetoric targeting people based on national origin or ethnicity reinforces harmful stereotypes and fuels discrimination and violence. The resolution is also cosponsored by Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY), Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA), Congressman Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), and Congressman Ami Bera (D-CA).
“When President Trump amplifies racist rhetoric targeting Indian Americans and Chinese Americans, it sends a dangerous message at a time when both communities already face hate and discrimination. The President of the United States should be condemning racism, not fueling it,” said Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. “For generations, Indian Americans and Chinese Americans have strengthened our communities, grown our economy, served our nation in uniform, and helped carry forward the promise of America. The President of the United States should honor those contributions and recognize that the people he demonized are every bit as American as he is.”
“From the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II to a sitting president amplifying claims that Indian and Chinese immigrants have ‘no loyalty’ to this country, the message has too often been the same: Asian Americans have been treated as perpetual foreigners, no matter where we were born, how long we’ve lived here, or how deeply we’ve contributed to this nation,” said Rep. Ted Lieu. “I came to the United States when I was three years old and have dedicated my life to serving my community and my country. Racist, xenophobic rhetoric has no place in America. Immigrants strengthen this nation every single day, and no amount of hateful rhetoric from a racist president will ever change that.”
“Trump, his administration, and Republicans in Congress have turned towards racism and xenophobia as a distraction from the fact that they are failing Americans, who cannot afford to put gas in their cars or food on their tables,” said Rep. Jayapal. “Disgusting, hateful rhetoric like this being promoted by the President of the United States will only add fuel to the fire as anti-Asian hate is already on the rise.”
The resolution condemns racist language targeting Indian Americans and Chinese Americans, calls on elected officials to reject rhetoric rooted in racial and ethnic stereotypes, reaffirms that attacks based on national origin or ethnicity are un-American, and affirms that immigrants are essential to the fabric of the United States. It is endorsed by organizations including STOP AAPI Hate, Chinese for Affirmative Action, South Asian Network, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC.
“For more than five decades, our organization has worked to protect and advance the civil rights of Chinese Americans and all Asian Americans. We know from our history that words matter. Language that demeans entire nationalities and communities fuels prejudice, discrimination, and violence,” said Vincent Pan, Co-Executive Director of Chinese for Affirmative Action. “We condemn this racist rhetoric and reaffirm that birthright citizenship is a cornerstone of our democracy.”
“Anti-Asian hate-filled rhetoric has become a national pastime of President Trump. His ongoing racist tirade against Indian and Chinese Americans must stop now before more innocent people lose their lives,” said Shakeel Syed, Executive Director of South Asian Network. “South Asian Network calls on congressional leaders to support the House resolution condemning the President’s blatant racism toward Indian and Chinese Americans.”
“We applaud this resolution for unequivocally condemning racist rhetoric targeting Asian American communities. At a time when hateful speech continues to fuel real-world harm, it is critical that our leaders speak out clearly and hold the line against discrimination in all forms,” said Sim J. Singh Attariwala, Director of Anti-Hate at Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC. “We are proud to support this effort and stand ready to work with Congress to advance policies that protect our communities and uphold our shared values.”
“The U.S. is home to 24 million Asian Americans. When President Trump uses his platform to attack birthright citizenship, he sends a clear message: that our communities are perpetual foreigners who do not belong in his vision of America,” said Cynthia Choi, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate. “And when he singles out Chinese and Indian immigrants, he puts all Asian Americans at risk regardless of immigration status. Make no mistake, this is not about national security. It’s not about policy at all. It’s racism and xenophobia masquerading as law, and we refuse to let it stand.”
The full text of the resolution is available here.