Defending our values - Jewish Democratic Council of America

Friends,

This week, a Trump administration official suggested changing the iconic words on the Statue of Liberty to reflect the restrictive immigration policies of this administration. This is an appalling betrayal of American values.

America is a nation of immigrants, and we must defend our values, including welcoming the stranger. The words etched on the Statue of Liberty provide a promise of America to those in need, including many of our ancestors, whose escape from anti-Semitism in Europe included a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty as they passed through Ellis Island.

These words – and the values they symbolize – aren’t going anywhere, but we must defend them. That’s precisely why the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) was created two years ago this week, to serve as the voice of Jewish and Democratic values. This is what we’re doing each day.

We marked two years since this dark moment in American history with a statement and video highlighting the need to combat the startling rise of anti-Semitism in the past two years.

We also issued a statement earlier today urging the Israeli government to not bar entry of Congresswomen Omar and Tlaib. Despite our policy differences with these members of Congress, banning their entry into Israel is an unprecedented decision that would prevent them from seeing the complex facts on the ground that are essential to understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Read our statements below.

As we mark the two-year anniversary of JDCA, we are incredibly proud of what we’ve built.

As JDCA responds to many items in the daily news cycle, we are not losing sight of the big picture. That is why we have built an organization that represents Jewish Democrats that is not defined by the occupant in the White House or others on the other side of the aisle. We know the way to win in 2020 is to defend and voice our values.

That’s what we did in the 2018 midterm elections, when we endorsed 58 candidates across the country who shared our values, and 84% of them won, helping to flip the House from red to blue.

In 2020, we will help flip the Senate and the White House with overwhelming support for Democrats among Jewish voters by energizing the Jewish electorate to engage in the electoral and legislative processes.

In the coming months, we are planning an exciting and informative series of conversations with officials, as well as events and programs across the country. To be sure you don’t miss out, visit our TAKE ACTION page and follow us on social media:

We are laying the groundwork for mobilizing the Jewish vote in support of candidates who share our values, but we cannot take victory in 2020 for granted.

Just like the words on the Statue of Liberty, JDCA is here to stay, and we appreciate your partnership.

Thank you,

Ron Klein,
Chair, Jewish Democratic Council of America

Halie Soifer
Executive Director, Jewish Democratic Council of America