Donald Trump’s Islamophobic attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar yesterday was explicitly racist and utterly reprehensible. One does not have to agree with the congresswoman on everything—or anything—to know what bigotry looks like and to be willing to immediately condemn it. We are regularly disgusted with the weaponization of hate and the perpetuation of religious intolerance coming from the ostensible leader of the free world. The Jewish community, far from being immune to this type of rhetoric, knows how dangerous it can be when powerful individuals use noxious language to paint an entire faith.
First he came for “the Mexicans”, then he came for the disabled, then he came for Muslims—even Gold Star families. Whether we are Mexican or disabled or Muslim or none of the above, we will not be silent. We call on all people of conscience to speak up, as well.