Rep. Peter King
U.S. representative for New York's 2nd congressional district
“Police have to be in the community, they have to build up as many sources as they can, and they have to realize that the threat is coming from the Muslim community and increase surveillance there.” - Rep. Peter King
Rep. Peter King
U.S. representative for New York's 2nd congressional district
Rep. Peter King (R-NY) currently serves as the Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence. King has become known for casting suspicion on entire Muslim American communities.
In March 2011, as chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, he held Congressional hearings titled “Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim Community and that Community’s Response.” Rep. King’s singular targeting of the Muslim community ignores the facts. For instance, research shows that the majority of terrorist plots in America since 9/11 have been committed by non-Muslims, particularly right-wing extremists and white supremacists. Many law-enforcement officials, counterterrorism professionals, civil rights organizations, and interfaith leaders called Rep. King’s hearings misguided. Aided by false facts, skewed studies, and talking points that came from several of the experts profiled on this site, Rep. King used the hearings to promote debunked myths about Muslim American communities.
Rep. King has also supported the unconstitutional surveillance of law-abiding Muslims and supported the NYPD’s controversial Muslim surveillance program.