Statement of Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton – April 6, 2019, Uyghur Freedom Rally

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April 6, 2019

Dear friends of the Uyghur community:

Thank you so much for inviting me to be with you today. I am sorry that I am not able to attend, but please know that I stand with you in support of the Uyghur people.

Human rights violations of any kind are unacceptable, and the treatment of the Uyghur people by the Chinese government is no exception. State-sponsored violence and “re-education” camps that suspend civil and religious liberties have no place in East Turkestan or anywhere in the world.

The Uyghur people have suffered for too long under the Chinese government, and it is past time that Congress acted to protect Uyghurs from persecution, forced internment, and violence. That is why I cosponsored two pieces of legislation in the House of Representatives that would condemn human rights abuses against the Uyghur people and impose sanctions on those who support the concentration camps in East Turkestan or otherwise harm the Uyghur population. The U.S. can and should be a global leader in preventing human rights violations against Uyghurs, and I urge my colleagues in Congress to support this important legislation and act on it as soon as possible.

Thank you so much to all of you who are here today. In the short time I have served in the House of Representatives, hundreds of my constituents from Virginia’s 10th District have contacted me about this important issue, and I want to let them know that their voices have been heard. I urge you all to keep up the fight so that together we can end the brutal repression of the Uyghur people once and for all.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Wexton

Member of Congress