Coachella Valley groups react to Trump’s Muslim ban proposal

Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump is under fire from both parties for suggesting that Muslims be temporarily banned from entering the country.

“A total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what the hell is going on,” said Trump.

Trump’s proposal comes after a Muslim couple went on a shooting rampage in San Bernardino last Wednesday. It would apply to immigrants and visitors alike. Critics call it unconstitutional, unenforceable and not American. The proposal is sparking reaction in the Coachella Valley as well.

Melisse Banwer, executive director at the Tolerance Education Center in Rancho Mirage said Trump’s words were hurtful and hateful.

“My immediate thoughts go back to the Holocaust,” said Banwer. “There’s a bad element in every group, there are good people and bad people in every race, every religion, every gender. You can’t take the actions of a few to align the group at large.”

We reached out to the Islamic Society of the Coachella Valley. Imam Reymundo Nour, who spoke at a news conference in Indian Wells on the San Bernardino attack, didn’t want to comment on Trump’s proposal.

Republican Jim Stuart from the Lincoln Club of Greater Palm Springs doesn’t support Trump for president, but agrees in part.

“Not just the Muslims, we don’t pick on any one. We have to close all borders and we have to take a much slower approach of who’s coming. Because you don’t know who the enemy is,” he said.

Banwer said action needs to be taken, but it starts with education.

“We need to be more tuned in, we need to get to the root of the problem, that’s education from earlier level. The terrorists are teaching their children to hate and to kill. We should teach our children to accept and understand and tolerate one another. I think that’s the key.”