Civil and Human Rights Community Condemns Racist Rhetoric, Calls for Solidarity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kristen Voorhees, [email protected], 202.548.7166

WASHINGTON – Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement regarding President Trump’s recent racist, bigoted remarks against elected officials:

“Our civil and human rights coalition speaks on behalf of all people in this country – those who represent every constituency, political party, and geography. Our millions of voices speak collectively to denounce President Trump’s continued use of racist, hateful rhetoric. More importantly, we rebuke those who condone his behavior or who are too afraid to speak out against him. His treachery is on your hands.

“This is not about hurt feelings, partisan politics, or name-calling on social media. Presidential rhetoric has real-life consequences for people in this country—consequences that include death, war, riots, and other tyranny. Donald Trump knows this. And he has fomented hate and racism that has endangered the lives of women of color in Congress and so many others. Beyond that, his anti-immigrant invective is strategically designed to reboot our nation’s understanding of who is American – restricting that distinction only for those who are white and male. This is wrong. All of it is wrong.

“If you have remained silent during Trump’s presidency, this is your cue to speak up and speak out. All of us—including elected officials at all levels, private citizens, civil society leaders, and private sector executives—must denounce this dangerous rhetoric. No one gets a pass. Republicans have an exceptional responsibility in this moment to rebuke this president’s hateful rhetoric and agenda, making clear that humanity transcends party. Their failure to do so before now has been embarrassingly shameful.

“Words have consequences, and so does silence.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org