RWDSU President Appelbaum Speaks in Support of DREAMers
On September 6, at the New York City rally in support of the DREAMers and as a response to the announcement by Donald Trump that he will repeal DACA, Stuart Appelbaum, President of the RWDSU delivered remarks to a crowd of labor members, activists, and advocacy groups, sending a message to Trump and Congress that New York City will protect the rights of hard working New Yorkers and will fight back and protect immigrants across the country.
“We are outraged by the actions of Donald Trump today. My union, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store union, is a union of immigrants and we stand with you – and the entire labor movement stands with you. Ending DACA is a despicable and cowardly act of a cowardly politician seeking to curry the favor of the white nationalists who elected him. It is repugnant and it stands in direct opposition to our values as Americans. We are a nation of immigrants – of people who struggled to come to a land that was founded on freedom. And the American people know immigrants are the foundation of our communities – a foundation that cannot be paved over. The majority of Americans support DACA – they get how this program represents the best of America – and more importantly Americans understand that it is morally indefensible to deport children. From day one, Trump has let TPS Visas lapse day after day, he’s announced some of the most reprehensible immigration bans the world has ever seen and today he is seeking to remove nearly 1 million children from our country – children that have committed no crime, and who have known no other home. The values Trump’s actions have represented from day one are not American values. And when our leaders don’t embody our values – it’s time for new leaders! We need to continue standing up and fighting back. We can win back our country together. But it’s going to take courage and energy and fight – things Trump’s actions today gravely lack. So stand up, Fight back,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.