More than 50 organizations and Jewish activists have banded together to express solidarity with an immigrant rights group after nine Democratic state senators in Maryland threatened to withdraw state funding due to the group’s calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
CASA, the Maryland-based immigrants’ rights organization, issued a statement earlier this month saying that they stand “in resolute and steadfast solidarity with the people of Palestine in their relentless fight for freedom.” The organization condemned “the utilization of US tax dollars to promote the ongoing violence” and called for “an immediate ceasefire” to stop “the systematic ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.”
But after their statement was released, nine lawmakers who represent Montgomery County, issued a response saying they were “deeply disappointed” by CASA’s statement and its lack of acknowledging “the long and painful history of antisemitism in its myriad forms.” As a result, the Montgomery County Senate Delegation proposed the potential of withdrawing state support for the organization.
“This might be an appropriate time to reevaluate the state’s mechanism for providing financial aid and support to our immigrant community,” the senators wrote. “More specifically, we must ensure that public funds are not being used to promote antisemitism and Jewish hate.”
Dozens of organizations signed a letter demanding that the senators retract their public letter which “explicitly threatens” the immigration rights non-profit by stating that they intend to “re-evaluate” their legislative funding.
credit Salone news
