x-sender: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com
x-receiver: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com
Received: from mail pickup service by sc.lmhostediq.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC;
	 Wed, 6 Jan 2016 11:12:07 -0500
thread-index: AdFInP0tO4tyDDIwToOpT2TnVglsXg==
Thread-Topic: Islamophobia and hate crimes
From: <governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com>
To: <governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com>
Subject: Islamophobia and hate crimes
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2016 11:12:07 -0500
Message-ID: <7DA6B3D1B12C4D7CB93DC32013F4DD8B@IQ12>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
	charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
X-Mailer: Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000
Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message
Importance: normal
Priority: normal
X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.1.7601.17609
X-OriginalArrivalTime: 06 Jan 2016 16:12:07.0160 (UTC) FILETIME=[FD434F80:01D1489C]

<APP>CUSTOM
<PREFIX>Ms.</PREFIX>
<FIRST>Laura</FIRST>
<MIDDLE>D.</MIDDLE>
<LAST>Lance</LAST>
<SUFFIX></SUFFIX>
<TITLE></TITLE>
<ORGANIZATION></ORGANIZATION>
<ADDR1>3046 Old Powderhouse Rd</ADDR1>
<ADDR2></ADDR2>
<CITY>Aiken</CITY>
<STATE>SC</STATE>
<ZIP>29803</ZIP>
<EMAIL>lauradexterlance@gmail.com</EMAIL>
<PHONE_H></PHONE_H>
<PHONE_B></PHONE_B>
<ISSUE>IMMI</ISSUE>
<SUBJECT>Islamophobia and hate crimes</SUBJECT>
<CUSTOM1>24.145.45.172</CUSTOM1>
<MSG>
Dear Governor Haley, 

I am concerned about the rise of Islamophobia and fears of Syrians and refugees in our state and our country, as these have led too many times to hate crimes, including hate crimes against the Sikh community, about which you are no doubt aware. We in South Carolina have seen up-close the tragedy that can result from such irrational hatred. I am writing to urge you to take better advantage of the teachable moments before you, which could go a long way towaard fighting the bigotry against other religions and nationalities. One such moment arrived just this week, as 2016's first suspected hate crime against a Sikh -- an elderly man who was stabbed to death in California on New Year's Day -- came and went with relatively little media coverage. Could any good come from your opening a dialogue on this, by putting a governor's face -- as one born into a Sikh family -- onto the stereotypical targets of hatred? I think so. I believe that, if people can learn to see Muslims, blacks, Mexicans, Sikhs, Buddhists, Syrians, etc. as human beings, and not as objects of blind hatred, we will see a lessening of the divisivenss and hatred tearing at the social fabric of our state and our country. I hope that you agree. 

Respectfully,
Laura Lance
</MSG>

</APP>