John,

Yesterday, as Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib were preparing
to travel to Israel and Palestine with a U.S. delegation of Congress
Members, President Trump was busy tweeting at Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu encouraging him to ban these two leaders from entering
the country. Netanyahu listened, and declared that Ilhan and Rashida were
not welcome.

This is unheard of: the President of the United States publicly urging a
foreign leader to ban U.S. members of Congress from entering the country,
just because they speak up for the rights of the people of Palestine? It’s
racist, it’s demeaning, and it’s a danger to democracy.

[ [link removed] ]We cannot for one second let the world think that we stand by Trump’s
behavior, and now more than ever, we need to show Ilhan and Rashida that
we have their back. Pitch in a contribution of
$10 or
whatever you can to show these progressive women of color in Congress that
the grassroots support them.

[ [link removed] ]PITCH IN

As the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, Ilhan and Rashida were
looking forward to visiting with the people of Israel and Palestine, and
for the first time providing a voice for those who for too long have been
oppressed by military occupation.

Rashida was especially looking forward to visiting her Palestinian
grandmother, picking figs from one of her fig trees, and cherishing what
could be one of their last times together. But after Trump’s ridiculous
and racist political attack, Rashida would only be permitted to visit
Palestine if she signed a letter -- and she refuses. She refuses to let
the Israeli government use the love of her grandmother against her. She
refuses to visit her family under such humiliating and oppressive
conditions. And she refuses to be silenced, as the people of occupied
Palestine continue to suffer with no one to speak for them.

Banning and silencing U.S. leaders from traveling to a country based on
their beliefs is undemocratic, period. It is a direct consequence of
Trump’s racism, and goes to show that the politics of hate are thriving
under Trump and Netanyahu. It’s up to us to reject it.

[ [link removed] ]Join DFA in standing with Ilhan and Rashida: make a donation to their
campaigns now >>

It’s clear the racist, xenophobic, sexist, and Islamophobic attacks
against these strong, progressive women of color are only continuing under
Trump. It’s up to us to show him we are stronger together, and we will not
tolerate his hate or attempts to undermine our democracy.

In solidarity,

-Yvette

Yvette Simpson, CEO
Democracy for America






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