Womankind condemns the highest court of the United States for standing in support of President Trump’s Muslim ban, a decision that repeats the most harmful and shameful mistakes of this country’s past. It not only allows codification of fear, hate, and deeply-rooted racism, but also supports it to be within the acceptable and normal scope of presidential discretion.

For those of us who are a part of and serve the most impacted and vulnerable communities, we have been battling the devastating effects of this ban ever since the day it was introduced. It not only separates families, but also destroys legal and communal support systems critical to the survival of those fleeing violence. This is the reality we see from our daily work with immigrant and refugee survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual violence across the lifespan. We know that this decision falls squarely in line with this country’s most racist stains on history, despite the Supreme Court’s weak attempt to distinguish itself as otherwise. We know that this is far from what “safety” and “security” for our society is supposed to look like.

We at Womankind also know where our true values lie, and we fight everyday to support survivors rise above violence. Our communities have refused to give up, even in the face of generational trauma caused by hateful policies like the Chinese Exclusion Act and the internment of Japanese Americans. We continue to believe that every individual not only has the right to survive, but to thrive in this country.

Today, more than ever, we strengthen our commitment to providing refuge and solidarity especially to survivors of gender-based violence who are Muslim or have roots in countries that are being targeted. We call on all of you to join us as we unite to rise above fear and hate.

For highlights on the dissenting opinions and why this decision is harmful, please read this Vox article.