[GCVP] Thank Rep. Collins for Voting No on Islamophobia

July 18, 2017

At our July 16 GVCP Meeting, member Suzanne Blackburn reported on receiving a notification to thank Chris Collins for his recent "No" vote on legislation that would have promoted profiling Muslims in the US. Members asked Suzanne to forward the e-mail to the GVCP list.

Those of you in Chris Collins' District are encouraged to call or e-mail to thank him for his vote. Please scroll down to read the e-mail with details about the legislation and vote.

Also, add to your calendar…

August 8, Hiroshima/Nagasaki Vigil. 7:30 Avon Traffic Circle, 6:30 dinner at Tom Wahl's in Avon for anybody interested. Tell your friends! Invite people in your other activist circles. Bring your peace posters and banners!

Aug 20, GVCP meeting at Mae's in Geneseo (formerly Omega Grill). 1 pm lunch, 1:30 meeting.

September 21, International Peace Day celebration in Geneseo, 4 pm to 5 pm then joining with Peace Action Geneseo on the SUNY Geneseo Campus. More details to follow. This is an event for people of all ages. Please spread the word to families and teens who work for a peaceful future for all.

Forwarded e-mail…

View online ›

Dear Suzanne,

Please thank Rep. Collins for voting yesterday against an attempt to expand the Trump administration’s religious profiling and Islamophobic policies.

The amendment to the House’s military policy bill, the National Defense Authorization Act, would have required the Secretary of Defense to “conduct strategic assessments of the use of violent or unorthodox Islamic religious doctrine to support extremist or terrorist messaging.”

By subjecting the speech of Muslims to a higher level of scrutiny, thereby encouraging profiling and unjustified surveillance, this measure would have introduced an additional element of religious discrimination into our government’s approach to counterterrorism.

The amendment was defeated by a vote of 208-217. Please thank Rep. Collins for opposing this discriminatory and unconstitutional amendment and encourage him to continue to resist Islamophobic proposals whenever they are put forward.