To the millions of immigrants, Muslims, people of color, LGBT people, women, people with disabilities, and everyone who is threatened by the President-Elect and his administration, we want you to know: we are with you.
We are with you now. And we will be with you every day for the next four years.
American Jews are a multiracial and multiethnic community, and 76% of us voted against Donald Trump. We voted against him because we know all too well the dangers of fascistic regimes that rise to power through stigmatization and scapegoating of vulnerable minority populations. And we felt — in our bodies and in our bones — that Trump was presenting a vision of the country completely at odds with our Jewish and American values.
Now, together, we face a time of profound uncertainty. We all hope that our worst fears will not be realized, but we don’t know what will happen, or what kind of help you will need. Please know that in the event of any attempt by our government to wrongfully abridge your safety, liberty, or dignity, we pledge to stand with you in solidarity, to work alongside you using all of the spiritual, political and intellectual resources we possess.
You are not alone. We are with you.
Signed,
Stosh Cotler, CEO Bend the Arc Jewish Action
Alex Soros, Board Chair Bend the Arc Jewish Action
Rabbi Sharon Brous
Randi Weingarten
With Donald Trump entering the White House next month, a “Muslim registry” is a frighteningly legitimate concern. As Jews, we know how dangerous a religious registry can be.
But a government registry of Muslims already exists and President Obama can act right now to shut it down before Trump becomes President.
The registry is actually called the National Security Exit-Entry Registration System (NSEERS), and was started by the Bush Administration in 2002. It was used to track everyone who came to the U.S. from a list of primarily Muslim-majority countries, which the Bush Administration referred to as “havens for terrorists.”1
In 2011 the Obama Administration took an important step toward suspending this program, but President Obama can and must do more to completely dismantle NSEERS before it’s too late.
Take action with us so we can bring the voices of American Jews to this important action.
Source:
1) Vox — Donald Trump’s proposed “Muslim registry,” explained
As American Jews, we ask you to revoke the regulatory framework of the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System. NSEERS predominantly targeted Muslim immigrants and should be dismantled before it can be used by Donald Trump to target, register and deport Muslims.