Tell your governor to reconsider decision and support refugees

Posted by on November 18, 2015 · Flag

If your governor has expressed opposition to Syrian refugees settling in your state, tell him or her that you are disappointed with this dangerous decision by sending a letter and tweet (see below) today. Find a list of governors who have said no and their contact information at the bottom of this page.

Sample Letter

Governor [name of your governor]

State of [name of state]

State Capital Building

[City, State, Zip]

Dear Governor [name of your governor],

In the wake of recent tragic events in Paris, Beirut, Baghdad, my heart grieves with the rest of the world for the victims and their families. The terror inflicted by Daesh is familiar to many in the Middle East, and is driving the current refugee crisis. Having fled their homes and communities in the wake of brutal civil war and rampant terror, Syrian refugees now rely on other nations to provide safety. Unfortunately, they are not always welcomed. When calamity strikes and we as world citizens spread fear and division, we are giving in to the despair and suspicion that extremists are trying to spread. However, if we are united in our actions and remain committed to our values of freedom and opportunity, we demonstrate resilience.

Your announcement to suspend efforts to resettle Syrian refugees in [name of state] is disappointing and dangerous, and does not do justice to the millions of refugees and immigrants who have made this country their home. Refusing to allow refugees, who already undergo a stringent process, to settle in [name of state] compromises our American values and our safety. As you are already aware, all refugees undergo a rigorous 13-step screening process before arriving to the U.S. This screening is in place to ensure they are not a threat to our security. As the elected representative of the people of [name of state], I—along with the National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC), and its Campaign to TAKE ON HATE—implore you to stick to issues that help promote unity, rather than use divisive methods that serve only to weaken the communities you represent.

I urge to reevaluate your decision and support Syrians’ right to refuge. You must act now.

Sincerely,

[insert name/title/organization here]

Sample Tweet

[Insert governor's Twitter handle] Please reconsider your decision and promise to welcome Syrian and all refugees #RefugeesWelcome @NNAAC @takeonhate