Press Contact:
Elliot Levy
Press Contact
202-800-7409
Release Date: Thursday, June 22, 2017
New York – Following a report by The Daily Beast that Sebastian Gorka, a deputy assistant to President Trump, was fired as a lecturer/instructor for FBI officials due to his extreme anti-Muslim rhetoric and views, Stosh Cotler, CEO of Bend the Arc Jewish Action, released the following statement:
“These reports are the latest evidence that Sebastian Gorka is unworthy of any role in any administration. His horrific demonization, stereotyping and scapegoating of Muslims is appalling and completely unacceptable.
“Although Gorka has long been known for his anti-Muslim views, in recent months he has received more attention for his extensive ties to radical, antisemitic individuals and organizations. His embrace of both Islamophobia and antisemitism is a reminder that these various strands of hatred are linked by the shared ideology of white nationalism and white supremacy. This extreme worldview pervades the Trump Administration, as we’ve seen with the announcement of policies including the abhorrent Muslim ban, the efforts to create the mechanism for the mass deportation of immigrants, and the creation of an Election Commission that is poised to recommend policies that will suppress the vote of people of color.
“Time and again, Gorka has made intolerant statements and expressed views that are completely at odds with democratic values, let alone basic human decency. We call on Congress to investigate Gorka’s ties to white nationalist organizations, and to investigate whether the FBI has continued to use anti-Muslim trainers and trainings. The toxic ideology of white nationalism has no place in the White House.
Bend the Arc Jewish Action is leading the movement within the American Jewish community to build a nationwide, grassroots resistance against the policies of the Trump administration that scapegoat Muslims, immigrants, refugees and other marginalized groups. The organization has also been a leader in speaking out against the influence of white nationalists like Gorka and Steve Bannon in the Trump White House, driving a petition to the House Oversight Committee to investigate Gorka’s ties to antisemitic individuals and a petition demanding Steven Bannon’s removal from the National Security Council. For more information about Bend the Arc Jewish Action’s work to oppose Trump, contact Elliot Levy at [email protected] or 202-800-7409.
