WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, praised President Barack Obama for his visit to the Islamic Society of Baltimore mosque to celebrate the positive contributions Muslim Americans continue to make across our nation. Senator Cardin visited the Masjid Bait-us-Samad mosque in Baltimore County on Monday for a similar conversation on shared community concerns, particularly in the face of recent increases in anti-Muslim rhetoric and discrimination.

“Our community is stronger because of our diversity. It is part of the very core of American values that we never stop working to create a society free from discrimination, intolerance and prejudice – an open society where individuals of any religion, or no religion, are ensured full participation in every facet of life. Increasingly, Muslim Americans have been unfairly targeted with sweeping stereotypes spread by politicians peddling messages of fear and ignorance. Open dialogues like the one President Obama is holding today and the conversation I had earlier this week between Muslim and non-Muslim leaders help to build respect between communities and help ensure that the true contributions of America’s Muslim community are fully understood by as large an audience as possible. We need to see more stories about the Muslims who do things like serve in our military, notch significant medical advances and teach our children. They are out there and they are making this country a better place every single day.”

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