- United States
- Pa.
- Letter
We are now in the territory of Pastor Niemoller's famous poem:
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
Trump's bigotry is coming for everyone: for trade unions, for a list of words, for research.
The detention of Mahmoud Khalil by ICE is a violation of the rule of law and due process. Khalil has been charged with no offense.
What happened to the rule of law? What happened to the first amendment? (It
prohibits Congress from making laws respecting an establishment of religion; prohibiting the free exercise of religion; or abridging the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the freedom of assembly, or the right to petition the government for redress of grievances.)
If you let due process and the rule of law be overturned for Mahmoud Khalil, who will be next? This is not just an issue for Mr. Khalil, not just an issue for Pennsylvania but an issue for all Americans and the United States.
Hold hearings and bring ICE agents in to answer questions under oath. Make additional funding for ICE contingent on accountability and legality. If you do nothing you are complicit in the death of the rule of law and the rise of tyranny.
