MPower Change
Tuesday, June 5, 2018
Washington, D.C. -- On Wednesday, June 6, Trump will host his first Ramadan dinner at the White House after breaking the decades-long tradition last year. Meanwhile, many Muslims in the U.S. and around the world are unable to celebrate Ramadan with their families due to the administration’s Muslim Ban. Linda Sarsour, Executive Director of MPower Change released the following statement.
“Trump’s hosting of a Ramadan iftar is a blatantly hypocritical move by a bigoted administration. Under Trump, we’ve witnessed several iterations of the Muslim Ban, the ending of the DACA program, indiscriminate and violent ICE raids, and a stacking of the administration with rabidly anti-Muslim, anti-people of color, and anti-immigrant officials.
Trump’s move to host a Ramadan dinner this year does nothing to remove the perpetual target on Muslims and other marginalized communities. The Muslim Ban has already had tremendous consequences on millions of people, the majority of whom are Muslim, many of whom are now unable to celebrate Ramadan with their families.
This is hypocrisy at its finest. Trump is providing lip service to celebrating the holy month of Ramadan while flouting our values by separating families and communities behind closed doors and in plain sight. No one is fooled by this cynical, symbolic event.”
