Bend the Arc Praises 9th Circuit Ruling Against Trump's Muslim Ban

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“The Ninth Circuit ruling is a victory for all those who believe in America as a nation of immigrants and for those opposed to President Trump’s spiteful, fear mongering political tactics. As Jews, we are a religious minority in this country, and we will not tolerate religious discrimination against anyone. President Trump’s attempts to scapegoat Muslims, immigrants and refugees are not only immoral and at odds with American values, they make us less safe by promoting hatred and division.

At every turn, the president’s ban has been blocked by the courts, and we hope the Supreme Court will follow this example by rejecting the Trump Administration’s efforts to reinstate this dangerous, counterproductive policy. We will continue to stand with our Muslim friends and neighbors and all others threatened by Trump’s cruel and radical agenda.”

Bend the Arc Jewish Action’s sister organization, Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice, joined “friend of the court” briefs opposing 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 both the Fourth Circuit and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals. 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.