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ICYMI: Congressman Nadler Joins Jewish Members in Letter to President Trump Following Comments About Charlottesville

“Your statements show a deep misunderstanding of history and a fundamental lack of moral compass.”

Last week, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) sent a letter with other Jewish Members of Congress to President Donald Trump after the President’s comments blaming “both sides” for the deadly violence in Charlottesville, Virginia. Describing the comments as showing, “a deep misunderstanding of history and a fundamental lack of moral compass,” the letter urges President Trump to be unequivocal in standing up to racism and anti-Semitism, saying “anything less is beneath the dignity of your office and the ideals of our great nation.” 

Signed along with Representatives Sander Levin (D-MI), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), John Yarmuth (D-KY), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), David Cicilline (D-RI), Bradley Schneider (D-IL), Susan Davis (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), the letter can be found here and below:

August 17, 2017

Donald J. Trump
President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Trump:

We are deeply troubled by your statement blaming "both sides" for the deadly violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.  Your statements show a deep misunderstanding of history and a fundamental lack of moral compass.   As the leader of our nation, it is incumbent upon you to stand up to hate, not provide legitimacy to those who violently perpetrate it.

You have now twice equated neo-Nazis shouting anti-Semitic and racist slurs as they waved swastika flags to the counter-protesters who gathered to resist them.  You have described some of the white supremacist marchers as “very fine people,” only a few days after a woman was murdered and many others severely injured, by one of those same white supremacists.  Two state troopers also died that day in the line of duty.

The man who has been charged in the death of Heather Heyer went to that rally knowing that he would find scores of people—white supremacists, just like him—spewing hate-filled, racist, and anti-Semitic lies.  Many other groups and individuals with similar anti-Semitic and racist messages were also in attendance, including former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.  Their actions caused immeasurable pain and suffering to Heather Heyer’s family, and to all who believe in equality for all Americans. 

Some of us are related to Holocaust survivors. All of us know them, and are privileged to represent them. They know how hateful, incendiary rhetoric leads to violence.  Heather Heyer's death is another powerful and painful reminder.  

In the strongest possible terms, we urge you to consistently and unequivocally fight against racists and anti-Semites.  Anything less is beneath the dignity of your office and the ideals of our great nation.

We urge you to stand with us on the right side of history. 

Sincerely,

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