Muslims in America

Credit: Keith Weller

Dean Michael J. Klag speaks out in support of Muslim faculty, staff and students who enrich the Bloomberg School.

Dear Colleagues,

By now, almost all of you are aware of the recent remarks by Donald Trump calling to ban entry of Muslims into America.

To my mind, singling out one religious group in this way could not be more abhorrent and antithetical to the principles on which our nation is founded. Even more offensive is that Mr. Trump suggested a parallel in U.S. history to support his proposal: Franklin Delano Roosevelt's use of the Alien Enemies Act during World War II. This strategy ultimately led to the internment of Japanese-American citizens in camps, one of the most shameful episodes in American history.

Our School has worked in, and collaborated with, Muslim countries since our beginning 100 years ago. Currently, we are fortunate to have many Muslim faculty, staff and students who enrich our School community in countless ways and magnify the impact of our work. I want to assure them, our collaborators around the world, and everyone associated with the School that while Mr. Trump may speak for himself and his supporters, he most certainly does not speak for the Bloomberg School.

Concerns about security are well-founded in today's world. In the face of fear, however, we must be true to our principles, respect the strength of our diversity, and work together to achieve a healthier world.

Sincerely,
Mike

Michael J. Klag, MD, MPH ’87
Dean
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

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