📸 Bernie Sanders celebrates diversity at Des Moines menorah lighting, urges fight against bigotry

Last edited Mon Dec 30, 2019, 04:50 AM - Edit history (1)

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U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders celebrated the country’s diversity before lighting the final candle on a Des Moines menorah Sunday night, urging the audience to reject bigotry and divisiveness.

Sanders, who is Jewish, said his father fled antisemitism, violence and poverty in Poland in the 1920s to come to the United States — a similar story to those of millions of Americans who trace their heritage all over the world. That diversity and willingness to work together regardless of skin color, religion or origins is “what makes this country great,” he said.

But not everyone in the country is working toward that end, Sanders said. Instead of “celebrating that beautiful diversity... there are people who are today, quite intentionally, trying to divide us up,” he said.

“What we are seeing right now — we’re seeing it in America and we’re seeing it all over the world — is a rise in antisemitism,” Sanders said. “We’re seeing a rise in hate crimes in this country. We’re seeing somebody run into a kid here in Des Moines because that child was a Latino. We’re seeing people being stabbed yesterday in New York City because they were Jewish. We are seeing people being assaulted because they are Muslim.

“… If there was ever a time in American history where we say no to religious bigotry, now is the time. If there was ever a time where we say no to divisiveness, now is the moment.”

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2019/12/29/bernie-sanders-celebrates-hanukkah-des-moines-menorah-lighting/2772165001/