Danette O'Neal, PhD

“We need to reject any politics that targets people because of race or religion. This isn’t a matter of political correctness. It’s a matter of understanding what makes us strong. The world respects us not just for our arsenal; it respects us for our diversity and our openness and the way we respect every faith…I believe that the American Dream should be possible for all no matter their faith.” President Obama

President Obama strongly condemned those who want to use hateful rhetoric against people or exclude them from entering this country because of their religion. It’s a matter of our values, and a matter of national security. Resettling refugees is a core American value and blocking refugees plays into the hands of extremism. And, Islamophobia and hateful speech has repercussions that put all innocent lives in danger. Rather than being a threat to national security, Muslim American communities have helped prevent more than one-third of Al Qaeda terrorist plots in the United States since 9/11.