FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2018
Reform Jewish Movement Denounces President's Inflammatory Comments on Immigrants
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, President Trump derisively referred to certain immigrants, saying, “These aren’t people. These are animals.” In response, Barbara Weinstein, Director of the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism, released the following statement on behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, and the wider Reform Movement:
"The President’s reprehensible reference to human beings as animals is unacceptable. Policy differences can be debated respectfully, without dehumanizing language such as that used yesterday by President Trump. We call on President Trump to apologize and disavow the use of such language. We hope that his administration will stop pursuing enforcement-only policies and instead seek immigration policies that ensure national security, meet the needs of employers, and, most essentially, respect human dignity and keep families together."
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The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is the Washington office of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose more than 900 congregations across North America encompass 1.5 million Reform Jews, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, whose membership includes more than 2,000 Reform rabbis. Visit www.rac.org for more.
