The National Association of Jewish Legislators (NAJL) expresses our outrage and significant opposition to the use of secret police on U.S. soil, being deployed by the acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Chad Wolf and President Trump.
The use of unidentified federal agents driving unmarked vans and detaining protestors without basis to arrest them is un-American. The tactics, which have seen uniformed officers spray tear gas on peaceful protestors, shoot journalists and veterans with rubber pellets and pull by-standers into rented minivans and taken into custody, have provoked harsh criticism across the political spectrum, from members of Congress and civil libertarians, local leaders and former Republican and Democratic Administration officials alike.
“The use of secret police is all too reminiscent for the Jewish community of the SS, the private army of the Nazi Regime,” explained Utah Rep. Patrice Arent and Co-President of NAJL.
SS chief Heinrich Himmler turned the regular police forces into an instrument of terror and forged the Secret State Police known as the Gestapo. The Gestapo's main mission was to identify and arrest political opponents of the Nazi regime. The Gestapo arrested and killed Socialists, Communists, trade union leaders and other political opponents without trial. By mid 1933, democracy was effectively eliminated in Germany.
In the words of Martin Niemöller, a German Lutheran pastor who rejected Nazism when Hitler insisted on the supremacy of the state over religion,
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
As elected state leaders across the country, we are speaking out for all those being targeted, arrested and injured by the unwelcomed and unidentified secret police in Portland, Chicago and wherever else they may be deployed.
“Sending Department of Homeland Security agents into cities where they use brutal tactics against protestors, journalists, veterans and onlookers is not welcome in our cities, states or country, and is antithetical to our Constitutional democracy,” said Oregon Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward and NAJL board member.
We call on President Trump and acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf to immediately halt the use of secret police. Furthermore, we support efforts to challenge these activities via federal courts and hope the courts will forcefully forbid all tactics that violate our U.S. Constitutional rights.
NAJL Board of Directors
Rep. Patrice Arent (UT), Co-President
Assemblyman David Weprin (NY), Co-President
Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn (VA), 1st Vice President
Assemblywoman Ellen Spiegel (NV), Secretary
Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet (CO), Treasurer
Rep. Tana Senn (WA), Regional Vice President & Membership Chair
Sen. Shelly Hettleman (MD), Regional Vice President
Sen. Sandy Pappas (MN), Regional Vice President
Board Members
Sen. Ben Allen (CA)
Del. Jon Cardin (MD)
Sen. Sara Feigenholtz (IL)
Rep. Dan Frankel (PA)
Rep. Michael Gottlieb (FL) (incoming board member)
Sen. Linda Greenstein (NJ)
Assemblyman Chuck Lavine (NY)
Sen. Becca Rausch (MA)
Rep. Emily Slosberg (FL) (incoming board member)
Assemblywoman Lisa Subeck (WI)