ADL Urges Candidates to Keep Debate on Immigration Policy 'Respectful'

NEW YORK, Dec 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Anti-Defamation League (ADL),
increasingly troubled by the deeply polarizing rhetoric of the immigration
debate and the routine demonizing of illegal immigrants, today called on all
of the major party presidential candidates to "set an example of how immigrant
policy can be debated respectfully" and to "forcefully speak out against
intolerant and dehumanizing rhetoric."

In a letter to the major party presidential candidates, ADL urged each to
refrain from hateful rhetoric that demonizes minorities, particularly
Hispanics, when discussing immigration on the campaign trail and in the
debates.

"While there are many legitimate and sincere perspectives in the national
conversation about illegal immigration and immigration in general, we are
deeply troubled by some of the rhetoric accompanying this debate," said Glen
S. Lewy, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.

"In our view, demonizing illegal immigrants has the effect of demonizing many
minorities, particularly Hispanics, regardless of their citizenship status.
It is contrary to the high ideals upon which our nation - a nation of
immigrants - was founded."

The League shared with the candidates a summary of its recent report,
"Immigrants Targeted: Extremist Rhetoric Moves into the Mainstream," which
documents how anti-immigrant propaganda, once the domain of hate groups, is
routinely used by anti-immigrant advocacy organizations and some media figures
to generate fear and hatred of immigrants.

"In the coming months, we hope the candidates will set an example of how
immigration policy can be debated respectfully," said Mr. Lewy and Mr. Foxman.
"We believe the candidates should forcefully speak out against intolerant and
dehumanizing rhetoric at every opportunity."

ADL's reports on immigration and extremist rhetoric are available online at
http://www.adl.org/civil_rights/

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading
organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that
counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

SOURCE Anti-Defamation League

Myrna Shinbaum, +1-212-885-7747, Todd Gutnick, +1-212-885-7755,
adlmedia@adl.org, both of the Anti-Defamation League