Tell Trump to #StopTheHate
Donald Trump
has said he will be the president for all Americans. We ask that he keeps
that promise by loudly, forcefully, unequivocally and consistently denouncing
acts of hate being carried out in his name and the ideology that drives them.
Add your name:
Kevin,
After a bitter campaign, and
an election in which Donald Trump won the electoral vote but Hillary Clinton
won the popular vote, our nation remains deeply divided. And the division
seems to be worsening: In the 10 days since the election, the hateful rhetoric
of the campaign has spread and even turned violent.
In his victory speech and during his “60 Minutes” interview, Trump urged
Americans to come together as one united people to take on the challenges
before us. But his actions tell a different story. By appointing Steve
Bannon, Jeff Sessions and retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn—three men with long
and disturbing records of bigotry and racism—Trump is only adding to the
climate of fear.
It is our moral imperative to fight the normalization of hate, and while we
will take actions in our schools, work sites and communities to protect our
kids and fight bigotry and bullying, as so many of our members already have,
Trump has a unique and moral responsibility to denounce these hateful and
intimidating actions.
This
morning, we sent Donald Trump a letter signed by the AFT and the Southern
Poverty Law Center calling on him to speak clearly and loudly against the
hate. More than 100 groups representing millions of people have also signed.
Add your voice and name to our letter.
In the months leading up to the election, Trump’s campaign rhetoric found an
audience with those who would use our differences to divide us. And in the
days following the election, we have seen people—seemingly emboldened by his
victory—committing harassment, vandalism, property destruction and even
assault based on those differences.
We know that millions of his supporters would never participate in these
actions, but the campaign rhetoric has created an environment that enables
and encourages those who wish to harm others.
Personally, I am especially troubled by incidents taking place in schools and
on college campuses—places where we do everything we can to ensure our
children are safe and nurtured, and have the opportunity to grow and learn
free of intimidation and hatred. But now we are hearing reports of disturbing
behavior: children chanting “build the wall” at their Latino classmates,
Muslim students and educators harassed for their clothing, male students
intimidating their female classmates, LGBTQ kids threatened and harassed, and
swastikas being painted on classroom doors.
There
is no room for this in America. Donald Trump must step up and lead by
denouncing the hateful rhetoric and violence following his election.
Many of these hateful acts have been carried out in his name. And while Trump
may not condone this behavior, his silence gives tacit permission to those
who carry out these acts.
As Americans, we are better than
this. You can stand up against these attacks by adding your name to this
petition.
Trump has said he will be the president for
all Americans. We ask that he keeps that promise by loudly, forcefully,
unequivocally and consistently denouncing these acts and the ideology that
drives them.
We
must all send a clear message that hate has no place in our public discourse,
in our public policy or in our society, starting with our next president.
Sign the petition now.
In unity,
Randi Weingarten
AFT president
P.S. The Southern Poverty
Law Center is collecting data on the effects of this divisive climate,
especially in schools. Complete
its survey here.
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