National Faith Leader Condemns President Trump’s “Animals” Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 17, 2018

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​MEDIA CONTACT

Michelle Nealy, mnealy@faithinpubliclife.org, (202) 735-7123

National Faith Leader Condemns President Trump’s “Animals” Comment

Washington, D.C. — President Trump labeled undocumented immigrants “animals”  while speaking at a White House event targeting California’s sanctuary city policies. In light of this development, a national faith leader has issued the following statement.

Rev. Jennifer Butler, Former Chair of the White House Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and CEO, Faith in Public Life:

“History shows that dehumanizing words go hand in hand with mass atrocities. From Nazi Germany to Rwanda, the perpetrators of genocide called their victims animals. President Trump crossed that dark line when he said on television, ‘these aren’t people — these are animals.’”

“The president’s rhetoric is part of an escalating danger to humanity that runs afoul of the teachings of every faith. Every faith leader in this country has a responsibility to set a moral example by condemning these sinful and dangerous words. God and history are watching.”

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Faith in Public Life is a national network of nearly 50,000 clergy and faith leaders united in the prophetic pursuit of justice and the common good.