We at DJOP are horrified and saddened by the deaths this week at the Muslim Mosques in New Zealand. As Martin Luther King so eloquently said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” We believe when one House of God is under attack, we are ALL under attack. The Muslim community was attacked simply due to their religious beliefs and their faith. We as Jews understand and know all too well what it like to be attacked for one’s faith. Unfortunately, the President of the United States, the leader of the Free World, who has the power of the pulpit, was unable or unwilling to adequately respond to the horror of what transpired in New Zealand. He said he does not believe that there is a rise in white nationalism around the world. He via tweet sent his “warmest sympathy”, which makes no sense, and nowhere does he mention that this was an attack against Muslims. His statement is what our bubbes would call a “shanda”.
Statement on the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting from DJOP
Democratic Jewish Outreach PA is saddened and horrified by the shooting at the Tree Of Life synagogue that killed 11 people, including a Holocaust survivor in Pittsburgh, PA. DJOP sends its heartfelt sympathy to all of the families and victims impacted by this tragedy. A toxic brew of anti-Semitism and easy access to guns resulted in senseless violence against members of our Jewish community. The attack in Pittsburgh is the single most violent incident against Jewish Americans in the history of the United States.
According to the ADL there has been a 57% increase in anti-Semitism in the past year. The President uses words like globalist and internationalist. He and the GOP have demonized George Soros, a Holocaust survivor and supporter of Democratic causes. Trump calls himself a Nationalist—not a patriot or an American but a Nationalist. The rise of anti-Semitic, racist and anti immigrant rhetoric has emboldened those who sympathize with these abhorrent ideas. Hate-filled rhetoric has no place in our nation or in any nation.
DJOP Urges Congress To End ‘Humanitarian Crisis’
The Steering Committee of the Democratic Jewish Outreach of PA (DJOP) today urged the state’s members of Congress to demand an end to the “humanitarian crisis” created by the Trump Administration’s taking of children from their parents at the nation’s southern border
The DJOP is a federal political action committee (PAC) formed in 2008 to support progressive candidates and legislation and sponsor programs on contemporary issues.
“Our Jewish tradition teaches us to welcome the stranger,” the DJOP said in letters to the state delegation. “The Trump Administration’s policy of separating children from their parents is an inhumane violation of this ideal. The Steering Committee of the Democratic Jewish Outreach PA PAC urges Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation to call upon the Trump administration to demand an end to this policy.” The DJOP letter added:
“The separation of children from their parents is a humanitarian crisis that goes against both Jewish and American values. As members of the Jewish community we know what it means to be dehumanized and persecuted. We call upon the organized Jewish community to join us in our call to immediately end this cruel, horrific policy of destroying families simply because they seek safety and a better life.”
A Successful Evening With Bob Casey
Last Thursday evening we were thrilled to host Senator Bob Casey in the home of Jill Zipin. We raised funds to support his reelection bid in the fall and in addition to giving some remarks, the senator answered a few questions from those in attendance. The importance of youth involvement was stressed along with combating President Trump’s agenda and supporting Israel.
Grassroots: The Key To Winning
By Jill Zipin, cofounder of DJOP and member of DJOP’s Leadership Team
We were very fortunate to have Congressman Jamie Raskin and Congressman Dwight Evans speak at our recent event. We were happy to see so many old and new faces. Both Congressmen spoke of the importance of grass roots organizing efforts to get out the vote. They agreed if we do not have people working to mobilize the voters then the Democrat’s message will not be heard, even if it is a good one.
Congressman Raskin spoke about his efforts to mobilize high school and college students in the upcoming Congressional races. He noted all progressive change has come from the bottom up—the civil rights movement to LGBTQ rights. His program, Democracy Summer, will immerse students in the history of progressive change, train them in the skills and issues critical to grassroots organizing and deploy them in key Congressional campaigns. Many of those key congressional campaigns will be right here in the Philadelphia suburban region. This program turns the passion of our youth into action, which will help the Democrats take back the House and the Senate.
Raskin’s Democracy Summer 2018 Seeking Applicants
Democracy Summer is a formalized political fellowship experience with a comprehensive structure and a beginning, middle and end, including a graduation certificate ceremony. But the relationships participants form are deep and enduring. While benefiting from the students’ idealism and energy, the program invests in their intellectual growth and the development of their political skills.
Fellows will receive practical training in all of the key skills of political organizing and democratic campaigning. They will participate in readings and discussions with leading policy experts, progressive leaders, and organizers. Each six-week session will explore a range of issue areas, such as climate change, reproductive freedom, tax policy, immigration and refugee policy, redistricting and gerrymandering, and voting rights and the spread of voter suppression tactics. Fellows will devote at least 50% of a 35-hour work week to direct electoral work including but not limited to phone-banking, canvasing, donor research, and campaign research.
If you know a college or high school student who wants hands-on political experience, encourage them to apply for the 2018 program. Applications are due March 18. To apply, visit https://www.democracysummerpac.org; there is a link on the page to the online application.