The following is an open letter to Governor Gina Raimondo, in light of the Paris attacks and statements from eight Republican governors who have decided to close the borders of their states to Syrian refugees.
To the Honorable Gina Raimondo,
The recent, horrific attacks in Paris serve to highlight the terrible plight of Syrian refugees. The apparent perpetrators of the Paris atrocities, I am sure you realize, are the same violent people and organizations that the refugees are escaping from. It would serve the attacker’s purpose, and make us complicit in their actions, were we to turn away these people in their time of need.As the governors of Illinois, Ohio Indiana, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Michigan, Alabama, Texas and Arkansas give into fear, ignorance and nativism, it is more important than ever for Rhode Island to stay true to its immigrant roots and do all we can to provide shelter, safety and compassion for as many Syrian refugees as we can bear.We are sure that there are powerful political forces and hundreds of letters, phone calls and emails pouring into the State House demanding that you close our borders to those in the world most in need. We would encourage you to listen to the better angels of our nature and open our hearts, and our borders.Let’s show the world what it means to be a Rhode Islander, and a decent human being.
Sincerely,
The Humanists of Rhode Island