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The Toledo Branch of
the NAACP is strongly opposed to the President’s move to
stop immigration of certain nationalities of people.
We are especially opposed to the ban on
Muslims.
In fact, all of us are
immigrants. Our country has been built and sustained by
immigrants. Africans were forcibly brought from their home
countries to serve the needs of landowners. Chinese, Irish,
Central and South American and other immigrants have
shouldered the work of many industrial and agricultural
enterprises throughout our nation’s history. The Statue of
Liberty’s tablet has welcomed immigrants for decades with
the words, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled
masses yearning to be free…”. Our country has proudly opened
its arms to others in need of freedom and justice since its
founding.
We are aware of the concerns for
terrorist activities in our country and abroad and the part
played by extremists. But there are extremists in all
religions. Christian extremists have been responsible for
heinous acts throughout the history of the world and even to
this day, they persecute others for various reasons.
Singling out a religious group is a dangerous move. Many
remember or have studied about the tactics of Hitler in
Germany and other countries to identify and eliminate Jews.
Although there were outraged, the program continued. More
than half a century later we are potentially on the verge of
another wave of similar tactics. How do we determine whether
a person is Muslim or Christian? Will we make the Muslims
wear badges and the Christians crosses?
We call on the President to lift
the ban on Muslims traveling to our country until another
solution can be found to stop Muslim extremists from
threatening us from within and without. Stop separating
families from each other. Refugees who have legally come to
our country have come to find peace and freedom. They
deserve at least that.
Ray Wood, President
NAACP Toledo Branch
419.214.1551
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