Greg Stanton

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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark 25 years since the tragic attacks of September 11 and to remember a life tragically taken in their aftermath in my own district. Twenty-five years ago today, Balbir Singh Sodhi was murdered at his Mesa gas station while planting flowers outside. He was the very first victim of a hate crime after 9/11. He was murdered because of the color of his skin and the turban he wore in keeping with his Sikh faith. It was a senseless act of hatred, but in the years since, Arizona's Sikh community has transformed that tragedy into something greater: a call for peace, for understanding, for unity, and for forgiveness, a call for this country to live up to its founding values. Every year, we gather at the place where Balbir's life was taken to honor his memory and to remind our community that hate has no place here. His brother, Rana, and his extended family have carried that message with remarkable grace. To honor Balbir, we must keep building a community and a country that welcomes everyone, that reaffirms that diversity, unity, and acceptance are at the heart of our founding values. My heart remains with his family and with Arizona's Sikh community, who have shown us that love can and must prevail.