The reverberations of President Donald Trump’s controversial executive order on immigration has been felt globally and culminated in a political firing reminiscent of the infamous “Saturday Night Massacre” more than 40 years ago.
At the local level, the immigration order, which temporarily bans visitors from seven Muslim countries with Muslim majority populations and an indefinite ban on travelers from Syria, was met will massive protests and condemnation.
Culver City school officials are trying to sort out the week-old executive action.
Culver City Unified School District Board of Education President Susanne Robins said the district has no official position yet Trump’s order. But she pointed out that the district has created an Inclusion, Respect and Diversity Task force to “ensure our students and their parents or guardians that they are safe and supported in all of our school sites, regardless of their faith, immigration status or any other identifying characteristic.
“Our role is to provide our community with an outstanding education, in a safe and nurturing environment for every child.”
CCUSD Joshua Arnold said a “range of topics” would be explored at the task force’s first meeting, which is Feb. 9. “Along with immigration policies and their potential impact on schools, the task force will discuss the physical, emotional, and psychological safety of all of our students, and will inform our district and school board about any actions recommended to uphold our standard of diversity, respect, and inclusion for all,” Arnold wrote in an email.
Rep. Karen Bass (D- Culver City) asked the Trump administration to rescind the ban, which some constitutional scholars have called unconstitutional and will affect more than refugees from Muslim countries. “Mr. President, the refugees from the three African countries you have banned are attempting to escape war, persecution or famine. The majority are seeking shelter, food, and safety,” Rep. Bass wrote in a Jan. 31 letter. “They wait years to be selected by a country and have to undergo an extremely thorough vetting process.”
One casualty of Trump’s order was acting Atty. Gen. Sally Yates. Yates refused to defend the immigration order and was promptly fired by Trump on Jan. 30, an act that some Democrats say recall the days of Watergate and then President Richard Nixon, who on an Oct. 20, 1973 Saturday night fired special prosecutor Archibald Cox, who was investigating Watergate- related crimes eventually traced to Nixon. Atty. Gen. Elliot Richardson had been ordered by Nixon to fire Cox, but Richardson refused and resigned under protest.
Robins said she was “personally outraged by this un-American, racist action by the new administration. We are committed to protecting the right to an outstanding education for every child in Culver City regardless of his or her faith or immigration status. Culver City Unified School District celebrates and cherishes the diversity of our student population.”
Gary Walker contributed to this story.
