November 18, 2015

Dear Governor Hickenlooper:

 

On behalf of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), I write today to thank you for your compassionate and strong statement regarding the welcoming of Syrian refugees to Colorado, and your refusal to join the growing number of governors who say they will refuse to accept them in the wake of the Paris terror attacks.

 

For more than 100 years, ADL has been advocating for fair and humane treatment of aspiring Americans and policies that honor our history as a nation of immigrants. We applaud your leadership in advocating for those seeking shelter in our state and your assurance that “we can protect our security and provide a place where the world’s most vulnerable can rebuild their lives.”

 

In the face of increasingly ugly anti-immigrant rhetoric that demonizes and dehumanizes those fleeing violence, your willingness to take a stand and welcome them to Colorado is all the more important. In opening the doors to Syrian refugees, you have not only continued our nation’s great history of welcoming the downtrodden, but have set the standard today for treating those fleeing oppression with the dignity, respect, and compassion they deserve.

 

Sincerely,

Scott L. Levin
Regional Director, ADL Mountain States Region