BALTIMORE - Thirty nine civil rights, faith, labor, humanitarian, social justice, and immigrant and refugee service provider organizations have joined the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Maryland and the Council on American-Islamic Relations - Maryland (CAIR) in sending a letter to Governor Larry Hogan in support of welcoming Syrian refugees and in opposition to the governor's current policy of requesting that the federal government not send Syrian refugees to Maryland.
"It is vital that Governor Larry Hogan understand that there is strong and growing support for welcoming Syrian refugees to Maryland," said Sirine Shebaya, staff attorney directing ACLU of Maryland's immigrant's rights advocacy. "Singling out refugees makes no sense, since they are the most extensively vetted group of immigrants ever to enter the United States. We call on Governor Hogan to reject discriminatory, fear-mongering calls to ban Syrian refugees from our country and instead welcome them to our state."
"We have a moral obligation to recall our shared humanity as the refugee settlement debate rages on," said Zainab Chaudry. "Our country is a country of immigrants who enrich and strengthen it. As the world witnesses a humanitarian crisis of unparalleled proportions in recent years, we cannot allow the politics of xenophobia and bigotry to persuade us to turn our backs on these refugees who need our help the most."
Quote from the letter: "The world is witnessing the largest refugee crisis since World War II. More than 4 million Syrians have fled from their home country to escape conflict and violence, and 6.5 million are internally displaced. Maryland has a long and proud tradition of welcoming with open arms those who flee persecution and death. We urge you to reconsider your statement asking that Syrian refugees not to be directed to our state, and to stand with your constituents in upholding that proud tradition."
List of organizations:
American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland
Asylee Women Enterprise
Ayuda
Baltimore Palestine Solidarity
Bill of Rights Defense Committee
Capital Area Immigrants' Rights Coalition
Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc.
CASA de Maryland
Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc.
Council on American-Islamic Relations - Maryland
Defending Dissent
Episcopal Refugee and Immigrant Center Alliance
Identity
Immigration Clinic, University of Maryland Carey School of Law
Immigration Outreach Service Center
Intercultural Counseling Connection
Interfaith Action for Human Rights
International Rescue Committee in Maryland
Jewish Voice for Peace
Jews United for Peace
Kids in Need of Defense - Baltimore
League of Women Voters of Maryland
Libertarian Party of Maryland
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
Maryland Immigrant Rights Coalition
Maryland Legislative Task Force for Islamic Affairs
Montgomery County Civil Rights Coalition
Montgomery County Young Democrats
Muslim Democratic Club of Montgomery County
NAACP - Maryland State Conference
Open Society Institute - Baltimore
Peace Action Montgomery
Progressive Cheverly
Public Justice Center
Service Employees International Union 32BJ
Soccer Without Borders - Baltimore
Syrian American Council - Maryland chapter
Tahirih Justice Center - Baltimore
United Church of Christ Central Atlantic Conference
Let's put it to a vote and allow the American people decide! Don't we still believe in democracy? Or have we become a nation of socialistic views and special interest group?
ReplyDelete"It is vital that Governor Larry Hogan understand that there is strong and growing support for welcoming Syrian refugees to Maryland,"
ReplyDeleteThis is ACLU BS.
The 'strong and growing support' for turning them away is well demonstrated in national polls.
Ignore the wet-pants liberals, Governor.
Which is exactly why I will be leaving this democrat welfare loving, refugee resettling, overtax and overspending failure of a state.
ReplyDeleteProtect the Syrians in Syria. Train the Syrians to defend though selves.
ReplyDeleteThirty nine civil rights, faith, labor, humanitarian, social justice, and immigrant and refugee service provider organizations have joined the American Civil Liberties Union are all in Obamas back pocket!
ReplyDeleteIf they want them then they can support and house them! I, personally, do not want any of my tax dollars in any form to pay for their care! And what happens once this 'crisis' is over are we as tax payers to pay for their repatriation to return? We, as a nation, are not able to take care of our own poor and homeless so how is it we can suddenly take care of 100,000 refugees, the majority of which practice a religion which preaches for them to kill me if I do not convert to their way of beleif?
ReplyDeleteThat's fine. Now ask them to sign up to pay for their upkeep.
ReplyDeletePut it to a vote.
ReplyDeleteI voted for Larry and he made the smart choice for all of Maryland
ReplyDeleteStand your ground Governor Hogan. Remember, the safety and security of the citizens of Maryland are your primary responsabilities. The people are overwhelmingly behind you. The aclu DOES NOT represent (and never does) the majority.
ReplyDeleteLet the able bodied men of military age stay and fight.
ReplyDeleteDon't back down Governor. The vast majority of the people in this state don't want them for lots of very solid and constitutional reasons. This is your chance to greatly pad your majority.
ReplyDeleteThere are more Maryland voters who don't want to take them than those who do. Refuse Syrian refugees.
ReplyDeleteThere wasn't even 39 people protesting in front of his office. Deceitful Muslim she is.
ReplyDeleteCharge all these groups with treasonous acts against the United States and disband them.
ReplyDeleteThank God that we have a governor who recognizes the safety importance of the citizens he promised to protect. Many support his decision and until all the vets have jobs, there are no more homeless, there are no more hungry and until all of these islamic countries decry the senselessness violence being committed in the name of allah then we should not be accepting any refugees accept for those that are Christians because these Christians are being persecuted and slaughtered all in the name of a filthy religion and culture!
ReplyDeleteNever herd of 99% of these libtard Groups
ReplyDeleteStay the course governor.....
ReplyDeleteHANG in there governor!
ReplyDeleteWe need concealed carry in MD.
ReplyDelete8:09 With the influx of potential Islamic troublemakers, I'm beginning to think concealed carry isn't the answer.
ReplyDeleteWe now need OPEN CARRY.
It's too easy for all those women (??!) in black, head to toe sheets, to be armed to the teeth, literally. They can easily hide weapons under all the black sheets, and they have done so in terrorist attacks in France, among other places.
Yes, invite anyone who wants to come to Maryland and the United States. Don't raise my taxes to feed them. Don't take my job away and give it to an immigrant. Don't ask me to donate toward their up- keep. Don't complain when some new-comers are ISIS soldiers who will destroy our land. Put this to a special election where voters must be Maryland residents and give their names, addresses and commit to their care. If they win acceptance, then these people will be financially responsible for their care. Let it be said. Let it be done.I have to work for my money and will put my family first. I am not wealthy like many. I am also wise enough to know that we cannot save the world. We aren't even giving our veterans good care. Charity begins at home. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteSTAND FAST, Hogan.. Don't let the tail wag the dog...
ReplyDeleteIf the 4 million who are leaving would stand & fight, there'd be no refugees. They could easily defeat the oppressor.
ReplyDeleteHang in there governor!
ReplyDeleteHave of these so called organizations don't even exist. ACLU GRASPING AT STRAWS. We voted for a Republican governor just for reasons like these. We will also vote a Republican president too stop all the libitard unconstitutional agenda. Not to mention we have 2 maybe 3 supreme Court choicesto make in the next 4 years.
ReplyDeleteRest assured; if the ACLU is for it you better turn and run. I feel sure that Governor Hogan will relish the opportunity to show these special interest groups that he will not be swayed by their self-serving agendas.
ReplyDeleteScrew the Obama-Knights Hogan...Stand your ground!!!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteLet's put it to a vote and allow the American people decide! Don't we still believe in democracy? Or have we become a nation of socialistic views and special interest group?
November 26, 2015 at 12:23 PM
No need to put it to a vote. Our Governor Listened to us.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteProtect the Syrians in Syria. Train the Syrians to defend though selves.
November 26, 2015 at 1:05 PM
They are well trained already and they are coming to our Country to pick up the stockpiles that are waiting for them.