Bend the Arc Joins Amicus Briefs Against Trump's Muslim and Refugee Ban

April 21, 2017

Press Contact:

Elliot Levy

Press Contact

202-800-7409

Release Date: Friday, April 21, 2017

New York, NY – Bend the Arc has joined “friend of the court” briefs opposing President Donald Trump's revised Muslim and refugee ban on the grounds that it is an unambiguous and unconstitutional attempt to single out members of a religious group for discrimination based solely upon their religion, in cases before the Fourth Circuit and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals. Bend the Arc Jewish Action's sister organization, Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice, joined both the Fourth Circuit brief, which was filed earlier this week, and the Ninth Circuit brief, which will be filed today. The amicus briefs, which describe the executive order as a “punishing ban on Muslim immigrants and visitors,” were authored by Americans United for Separation of Church and State and were also joined by the Southern Poverty Law Center, The Riverside Church in the City of New York, and several clergy members. The briefs argue that the ‘Muslim Ban 2.0,’ issued by President Trump following a series of court rulings against the original ban, violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution, which prevents the government not only from designating a state religion, but also from singling out one religion for condemnation or disfavor.

“This country was founded on the principle of religious freedom, and Trump’s dangerous, discriminatory Muslim ban directly undermines that fundamental value,” said Stosh Cotler, CEO of both Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice and Bend the Arc Jewish Action. “As Jews, we understand the pain and suffering that religious discrimination causes, and we are committed to resisting and defeating the radical anti-Muslim agenda of the Trump administration in any way possible, including in the courts.”

The briefs also note that President Trump’s repeated, unambiguous statements of hatred and bigotry toward Muslims demonstrate the ban’s true intentions. Despite the administration’s insistence that the policy was put in place for national security reasons, the original Muslim ban was crafted by Trump’s political advisers, like Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller, “who themselves have a public record of hostility toward Muslims.”

The full text of the Fourth Circuit amicus brief can be found here: bit.ly/2oVvyt4

Bend the Arc Jewish Action has been a leader in the American Jewish community in opposing the policies of the Trump administration targeting Muslims, immigrants, refugees and other marginalized groups. The organization’s open letter of support from American Jews to Muslims, immigrants and other groups targeted by Trump has gathered over 45,000 signatures.

For more information about Bend the Arc Jewish Action’s work to oppose Trump, contact Elliot Levy at [email protected] or 202-800-7409.