In his final State of the Union address, President Barack Obama called attention to recent rhetoric that targets people’s race or religion. “This isn’t a matter of political correctness” he said.

The president went on to call out politicians who insult Muslims.

“When politicians insult Muslims, whether abroad or our fellow citizens… when a mosque is vandalized, or a kid bullied, that doesn’t make us safer.”

FULL SPEECH: President Obama’s 2016 State of the Union Address

A Syrian scientist stricken with cancer and seeking a new start for his family in Michigan represented Syrian refugees as a guest of first lady Michelle Obama.

Refaai Hamo, his son and three daughters landed at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in December, anxious to rebuild their lives. Hamo fled to Turkey from Syria after a missile attack killed his wife and one other daughter. He was profiled on the popular photo blog Humans of New York as “The Scientist.”