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STATEMENT FROM NAN ON THE PRESIDENT’S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS

President Trump’s speech last night was a hollow, anti-immigrant appeal to his base that did nothing to unify the country after his first year in office. Instead of taking the opportunity to denounce increases in hate crimes and acts of white supremacy across the country, President Trump remained silent. Instead of encouraging the countless qualified DREAMers and DACA recipients looking to participate in the American dream that they too have a future, President Trump referenced gang violence, chain migration and anti-immigrant language, saying “Americans are dreamers too.”

This speech simply followed Trumps model—one he used frequently as a real estate mogul — of exaggerating and overselling to hoodwink the public, without any evidence or any ounce of fact. As I said before, Trump is not promoting a “dream,” but pitching a “scheme.”

Try as he might, the President cannot hide the reality that his administration has breathed new life into the war on drugs, encouraged voter suppression, and turned back the clock on criminal justice reform, pursuing an anti-civil rights agenda that only divides our country more. The National Action Network will continue its mission to ensure equal justice for all Americans regardless of race, religion, nationality or gender, with or without the support of the President. We will resist this administration at every turn.
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