Petition urges Republican Jews to withdraw support for Trump

The initiative came after the candidate tweeted an image depicting Hillary Clinton against a backdrop of cash and a Star of David calling her the “most corrupt candidate ever.”

By DANIELLE ZIRI
Did Trump use anti-Semitic imagery against Clinton (photo credit: TWITTER)
Did Trump use anti-Semitic imagery against Clinton
(photo credit: TWITTER)
NEW YORK - A petition urging the Republican Jewish Coalition to rescind its endorsement of Donald Trump was launched last week by the Jewish social justice organization Bend the Arc.
The initiative came after the candidate tweeted an image depicting Hillary Clinton against a backdrop of cash and a Star of David calling her the “most corrupt candidate ever.” Jewish groups had spoken against the tweet, but Trump later said the star was meant to be a sheriff star and not a Star of David.
The petition, which states that all Jewish groups have a moral obligation to denounce bigotry and hatred, calls on executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition Matt Brooks to retract the group’s endorsement of Trump until his campaign denounces and cuts all ties with white supremacists, including anti-Semites.
The RJC had endorsed Trump back in May following his win in Indiana, but had done so while withholding praise for the nominee and speaking of the need to defeat Hillary Clinton.
 “There should be no Jewish support for a presidential campaign that supports white supremacy and anti-Semitism,” CEO of Bend the Arc Stosh Cotler said.  “As long as Donald Trump remains a megaphone for hate, we’re calling on the Republican Jewish Coalition to stop backing his campaign.”
 
According to Ben the Arc, the Republican Jewish Coalition has the ability to pressure Trump to stop amplifying and enabling messages of hate.
“Although many Jewish Republicans have demanded that the Trump campaign change its ways, the Republican Jewish Coalition, by far the most politically powerful Republican Jewish group, has thus far remained silent,” the organization wrote