Acts that repress diverse identities and voices create an environment ripe for civil rights and civil liberties violations.
STATEMENT
DETROIT - On Monday, October 7, bags full of antisemitic writings associated with a white nationalist group were placed in neighborhoods across metro Detroit, and the headquarters of the Jewish Federation of Detroit was vandalized with spray-painted graffiti about Israel. The open targeting of Jewish people and organizations is abhorrent and we unequivocally condemn it.
In recent years we have seen a growing and increasingly open white nationalist movement in Michigan, accompanied by the strengthening drumbeat of Islamophobic, anti-Arab, antisemitic, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-immigrant rhetoric. In the last year, amidst devastation in Israel and Gaza abroad, we have seen a surge of incidents targeting Arab, Muslim and Jewish people here at home. Earlier this year, the Wall Street Journal painted the City of Dearborn in dangerous, inaccurate and Islamophobic terms. Just weeks ago, U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib, the first Palestinian-American woman to serve in Congress, was targeted by a vile editorial cartoon reinforcing anti-Arab stereotypes.
Although hateful speech and targeted vandalism, in and of themselves, are not typically thought of as civil liberties violations, in fact the trends we are witnessing represent a serious threat to the constitutional rights of all. These incidents open the door to an atmosphere in which the repression of diverse identities and voices that underpin an inclusive democracy is accepted as commonplace, creating a dangerous environment ripe for civil rights and civil liberties violations at all levels. We must not continue down this road.
Protecting freedom of speech is critical, especially in a moment where a candidate campaigning for President pledges to punish political critics and enemies if elected. We must be vigilant defenders of First Amendment rights while also using our own freedom of speech to strongly condemn acts and statements that target people based on their race, ethnicity, religious identity, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.
Our state is richer and stronger because of its diversity of cultural, ethnic, and religious identities. In this moment, when the diversity we embrace comes under attack, we must do all that we can to protect civil liberties and constitutional rights of all people in Michigan.
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