Greens condemn Trump’s shameful ban on Muslims and refugees

30 January 2017

Dear Editor,

It's mortifying that the Prime Minister was photographed hand in hand on Holocaust Memorial Day with a US President who, later that day, signed an executive order which places an immediate ban on immigrants from seven Muslim majority countries and all refugees entering the USA.

The order, which is called 'Protection Of The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States', also states that prohibition would not apply to non-Muslims and that Christians fleeing persecution would be prioritised for resettlement.

These measures are a barbaric attack on Muslims in the USA, from the countries which are now banned and on all Muslims around the world. It stamps upon all principles of liberty and civil rights and undermines the value system upon which all our democracies is based.

As Greens here in the UK we are ashamed that the highest elected official of our country visited the USA during this time and then spectacularly failed to take a serious stand against such hatred.

We call upon our Prime Minister to immediately condemn the order in the strongest. Half-baked statements simply aren’t good enough.  All who value human rights must stand up against this alarming act, the rise in hatred it represents and these clear stirrings towards fascism.

Caroline Lucas MP, Co-Leader

Jonathan Bartley, Co-Leader

Baroness Jenny Jones

Molly Scott-Cato MEP

Keith Taylor MEP

Jean Lambert MEP

Sian Berry AM

Caroline Russell AM

Grenville Ham, Deputy Leader, Wales Green Party

Ousman Noor, Campaigns Coordinator, London Green Party

Sarah Cope, Spokesperson, Women

Dr Rebecca Johnson, Spokesperson, Security, Peace and Defence 

Esther Obiri-Darko, Spokesperson, Science and Technology

Mags Lewis, Spokesperson, Disability 

Larry Sanders, Spokesperson, Health

Shahrar Ali, Spokesperson, Home Affairs

Charley Pattison, Spokesperson, Justice

Natalie Bennett, PPS, Sheffield Central

Martin Francis, Chair, Green Left

Dee Searle, Co-Chair, Camden Green Party

John Holmes, Co-Chair, Camden Green Party

Published in the Guardian

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