STATEMENT BY DR. MAYA ROCKEYMOORE CUMMINGS ON TRUMP’S PARDON OF FORMER SHERIFF JOE ARPAIO

Mr. Trump’s pardon of former Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio — who openly flouted the law by endorsing the use of racial profiling — is not a dog whistle, it’s an open statement of belief that the Constitution is not designed to protect Americans who are not white. This is not only a violation of the law and our most cherished Democratic values, it is a clear signal that the Mr. Trump is unable to lead our diverse military, civil service, and country. Although calls for impeachment have been muted thus far, they must be revived as Mr. Trump has proven to be a danger to Americans of color, of non-Christian faith, and those who are not heterosexual as well as to women and law-abiding immigrants. It is also alarming that Mr. Trump’s friend and colleague Roger Stone is essentially calling for Trump supporters to take up arms if Mr. Trump’s presidency is threatened. This suggests that it is completely plausible that Mr. Trump’s political playbook is to incite violence predicated on racial strife. The Arpaio pardon also suggests that Trump and his justice department would be willing to use unlawful detention of people of color and other oppressed groups in such a scenario. This is completely unacceptable. The time to stop Mr. Trump is now. I am calling for an Inclusion Revolution in which all Americans who believe in human rights and the values of diversity and inclusion stand up, speak out, and demand that Members of Congress-but Republicans especially-do their jobs and place a Constitutional check on Mr. Trump that holds him accountable. Anything short of this, makes the US Congress aiders and abettors of this travesty of justice and whatever horrific actions may come next.