Ruling Blocking Muslim Ban 3.0 "A Blow to Bigotry"

October 17, 2017

PRESS CONTACT:

Elliot Levy

202-800-7409

New York – Following a Hawaii federal judge’s ruling blocking the bulk of the latest version of Trump’s ‘Muslim ban’, Stosh Cotler, CEO of Bend the Arc Jewish Action, released the following statement:

“Today’s ruling to block most of Trump’s new Muslim ban is a triumph for justice and the Constitution and a blow to bigotry and xenophobia. Not only do these hateful policies violate the core principles of our nation, they also undermine the values shared by people of conscience nationwide, including American Jews. The United States cannot be a nation that turns away immigrants, refugees, or visitors based on their religion or national origin.

“We know that this battle is not over; we must–and will– continue to match the president’s radical efforts to implement the Muslim ban with steadfast resistance, resilience, and vigor. We will always fight for justice and work in solidarity with our Muslim and immigrant allies until the ‘Muslim ban’ is a relic of the past.”

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 The Supreme Court and 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.

Bend the Arc Jewish Action is on the steering committee for the “No Muslim Ban Ever” march in D.C. scheduled for tomorrow, October 18.