Prejudice and bigotry on trial

The saying goes, if it walks like a duck, swims like a duck, sounds like a duck… it’s safe to conclude you’re looking at a duck. A defense attorney would argue this evidence is circumstantial, insufficient for conviction, and the defendant should be found not guilty. This seemingly frivolous opening statement is strikingly relevant with regard to the Trump administration, as a case can be made for prejudice toward people in our country not of the Caucasian race nor can claim generations of citizenship. We cannot know what is in the heart of this president, but there’s sufficient and compelling circumstantial evidence.

During the first days of this administration, Mr. Trump used executive decree to ban citizens of predominantly Muslim nations from admission to the U.S., rejected by the courts and by thousands of protesters. Mr. Trump himself made publicly clear his contempt for anyone practicing the Muslim faith. Also consider his proposal to end the Diversity Visa Program, introduced with a crude reference to African nations and his preference for admitting Norwegians.

The keystone of his administration has always been blocking undocumented individuals from entering our country across the southern border, symbolized by his wall. Trump insists his wall will prevent a flood of drugs and rapists from entering our country, contradicting any semblance of fact. He has also empowered Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to detain law abiding undocumented aliens in the U.S. and deport them to their home countries, tearing many families apart. Those with expired visas, though lawfully contributing to our society and economy, are rounded up like criminals.

Then there is the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The great compassion he’s expressed for Dreamers is a blatant lie by virtue of his rescinding of the program to begin with. He used a televised meeting of representatives from both political parties to work out a form of residency and path toward citizenship for1.8 million people. It proved to be nothing more than false testimony.

Now, Trump’s Interior Secretary announced an addition to the 2020 census form, requiring all members of a household to declare citizenship. This latest tactic is simply another step toward suppressing Constitutionally mandated representation for people of color and faith who pose a threat to his vision of America. The irony of Mr. Trump’s affront to the diversity upon which this nation was built is that it does not advantage his radical base, but merely turns our differences into division.

Inconclusive? We cannot know his heart, but look into your own—and the evidence of prejudice and bigotry will compel you to find the defendant guilty as charged.

Richard Kushnier