Ted Cruz Urges "Patrol and Secure" of Muslim Communities

[Content Note: Terrorism; Islamophobia.]

Earlier today, I said that Donald Trump's disgusting response to the Brussels bombings was almost certainly the worst from the conservative side of the aisle.

But Ted Cruz, not to be outdone, has given us yet another reminder that "anyone but Trump" really fails to take into account that he's just as bad as the current Republican frontrunner:

Ted Cruz on Tuesday called for a freeze on any new refugees from areas affected by Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, as well as new powers for law enforcement to patrol "Muslim neighborhoods."

"We need to immediately halt the flow of refugees from countries with a significant Al Qaeda or ISIS presence," the Texas senator said in a statement. "We need to empower law enforcement to patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods before they become radicalized."

Because militaristic oppression has historically proven to be an effective strategy to diminish radicalization. Ahem.

Which is to say nothing of the fact that treating all Muslims like potential terrorists is a wildly indecent thing to do.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned Cruz's push for new law enforcement powers in Muslim neighborhoods.

"His proposal is dangerous, hateful, and unbefitting of one of the leading presidential candidates," Nihad Awad, the group's executive director, said in an interview. "We believe that all Americans should condemn that anti-Muslim proposal because it is anti-American and it is unconstitutional."

She added: "We believe that Ted Cruz is a religious zealot running for president in the United States making biased and hateful statements [about] American Muslims because of their faith."

I believe that, too. And I take up space in solidarity with US Muslims who are being demonized by Ted Cruz and the rest of his contemptible party.