DEARBORN — After the images of drowned Syrian child Aylan Kurdi surfaced, national efforts were focused on coming to the aid of refugees. But the tone of the conversation changed after terrorist attacks in Paris last month. Now national and state politicians are speaking out against accepting newcomers fleeing the war in Syria.

At a town hall meeting in Dearborn, Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson said rejecting refugees is immoral, illegal and un-Christian. 

Jackson questioned the sincerity of security concerns associated with refugees. “Some politicians are selling fear for votes,” he said. 

The Obama administration plans to accept 10,000 refugees into the United States next year. But Congress passed a bill to restrict the flow of refugees from Syria, and 31 governors rejected accepting those newcomers in their states. 

Jackson put the crisis in a civil rights perspective, saying state officials cannot use state rights to undermine the efforts of the federal government. 

Citing the Biblical story of Jesus fleeing Bethlehem with his family to Egypt, the reverend said Christ himself was a refugee. 

“We must stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters,” Jackson said. “We must stand them on refugees; it’s the moral right. You can’t worship refugee Jesus on Sunday, and lock out the rest of his family on Monday.”

The civil rights leader criticized linking Syrians fleeing the war to the terrorist attacks in Paris. He said the terror in the French capital should have sparked a debate about gun control because the attackers used automatic weapons that could be purchased at retail stores in the United States.

Jackson added that the United States has an ethical obligation to help refugees because U.S. foreign policy helped create the crisis. 

The reverend urged the African American community to support newcomers. 

“African Americans came to Detroit as refugees from the south,” he said.

The meeting, dubbed “All Lives Matter”, was organized by the Arab American Civil Rights League (ACRL) and Jackson’s Rainbow Push.

Jackson was joined by Democratic members of the U.S. Congress John Conyers and Debbie Dingell; ACRL founder Nabih Ayad; The Arab American News publisher Osama Siblani; president of the Detroit NAACP Wendell Anthony; and the Detroit Director of Immigrant Affairs Fayrouz Saad. 

Conyers, the longest serving representative in Congress, emphasized that the “complete” and “rigorous” screening process for refugees already ensures that they are not a threat to the nation before they are admitted.

Siblani said the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East will not be solved by accepting 10,000 refugees, and the scope of the tragedy requires a change at the foreign policy level. 

Dingell, who represents Dearborn, launched a strongly worded defense of local Arabs and Muslims. She said they are “great Americans” who always condemn terrorism. 

“We’re not going to let fear frame who we are,” she said.

Dingell said the perpetrators of the Paris attacks were tourists who could have come to this country on a tourist visa.

Ayad, of the ACRL, echoed her remarks. He said if terrorists want to do harm to the United States, it would be easier to come here on other types of visas than applying for refugee status.

Ayad said Arab and Muslim Americans pay a heavy price for terrorist attacks that also target them. 

“We are the first to be called upon to hate crimes and messages of hate that is targeted towards us,” he said. 

Saad reaffirmed Mayor Mike Duggan’s commitment to resettle 50 to 70 refugee families yearly. She said Detroit is coordinating with community non-profits and the federal government to ensure that newcomers have the resources they need. 

Rev. Anthony said Christian values stress helping people in need.

He urged the Arab American community to continue its fight for civil rights without giving in to bigots. 

“Stand up and hold your ground,” Anthony said.