Friday, October 5, 2018

The Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas, its Jewish Community Relations Council, the ADL-Texoma Region, the American Jewish Committee (AJC), the Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance and the SMU Human Rights Program feel compelled to address the use of Adolf Hitler’s name and depiction in a political advertisement recently issued by Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price as a comparison to President Donald Trump.

A citation to Adolf Hitler by anyone for anything other than education or reference to the Holocaust perpetrated during World War II, is highly inappropriate and offensive. This reference diminishes the inexpressible horror perpetrated and orchestrated by Adolf Hitler with the systematic murder of six million Jews and millions of other victims. To use his name and portrayal as a comparison in a political advertisement demeans the memory and humanity of those who perished and cheapens our political process.

In our current climate of political discourse, it is essential that our leadership and our community strive to maintain the highest level of mutual respect and consideration for each other. A civil discourse about ideas, positions and candidates makes our community and our country stronger.

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