Joint Statement from Reverend Al Sharpton, former Governor David Paterson, NYS NAACP President Hazel Dukes, Congressman Adriano Espaillat and Manhattan Elected Officials Blasting Donald Trump Racist and Anti-Semitic Attack on Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg

Today, Donald Trump called the duly elected Manhattan District Attorney -- the first Black person elected to this prestigious position -- a "Soros-backed animal."

Alvin Bragg is a respected, courageous, ethical and thoughtful lawyer.  Over a distinguished 20+ year career as both a state and federal prosecutor, Alvin brought many tough, high-profile cases against powerful people, including a sitting D.A., the leader of the NYS legislature, a mayor, and an FBI agent.

This disgraceful attack is not a dog-whistle but a bullhorn of incendiary racist and anti-semitic bile, spewed out for the sole purpose of intimidating and sabotaging a lawful, legitimate, fact-based investigation. 

These ugly, hateful and anti-American attacks on our judicial system must be universally condemned without equivocation or hesitation.  It is clear that Trump would burn down the greatest values of our democracy, and destroy honest, ethical officials performing their constitutional duties, to escape accountability. 

If we are to protect the rule of law in our country, and if we believe in the principles of our America's founding that all are created equal, then everyone who believes themselves a person of character and conscience must stand with us now to stare down this unprecedented attack on the foundation of our democracy.

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Reverend Al Sharpton * Former Governor David Paterson * NAACP NYS President Hazel Dukes Congressman Jerry Nadler * Congressman Adriano Espaillat * City Comptroller Brad Lander Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine * State Senator Liz Krueger * State Senator Robert Jackson State Senator Cordell Cleare * State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal * Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal Assemblymember Grace Lee * Assemblyman Al Taylor * Assemblymember Inez E. Dickens Assemblyman Eddie Gibbs * City Councilmember Gale Brewer * City Councilmember Shaun Abreau [list in formation]