Another one of Donald Trump's committees just resigned in protest
In a move that is honestly should not be surprising at this point, members from another one of Donald Trump's committees have resigned.
The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, which includes members from across the entertainment industry, published an open letter to Trump Friday that condemns the president's comments regarding Charlottesville and white supremacy—and includes a secret message, if you pay close attention.
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Dear @realDonaldTrump, attached is our letter of resignation from the President's Committee on the Arts & the Humanities @PCAH_gov pic.twitter.com/eQI2HBTgXs
— Kal Penn (@kalpenn) August 18, 2017
“Reproach and censure in the strongest possible terms are necessary following your support of the hate groups and terrorists who killed and injured fellow Americans in Charlottesville,” the letter reads. “The false equivalencies you push cannot stand. The Administration’s refusal to quickly and unequivocally condemn the cancer of hatred only further emboldens those who wish America ill. We cannot sit idly by, the way that your West Wing advisors have, without speaking out against your words and actions.”
According to The Washington Post, several members quit the panel following the November elections. The letter—signed by remaining committee members actor Kal Penn (who tweeted the letter), director George C. Wolfe, executive Fred Goldring, photographer Chuck Close, and more—goes on to explain it finds it "un-American" to discriminate based on race, gender and more.
"We have fought slavery, segregation and internment. We must learn from our rich and often painful history. The unified fabric of America is made by patriotic individuals from backgrounds as vast as the nation is strong," it reads, before listing the many things Trump has attacked since his political career began.
"Ignoring your hateful rhetoric would have made us complicit in your words and actions," they wrote, calling upon Trump to resign if he does not understand the disconnect between his actions and American values. First Lady Melania Trump, who is the chairwoman of the commission, has not spoken out regarding this letter nor has she signed alongside the industry folks who penned the piece.
But the best part about this whole thing? The first letter of each paragraph, including the "thank you," spells out the word "resist."
Reproach. Elevating. Speaking. Ignoring. Supremacy. Thank.
Definitely no coincidences there.
UPDATE: Aug. 18, 2017, 4:51 p.m. EDT The White House responded to the departure of Arts and Humanities committee members with a statement provided to New York Times reporter that explained the president was not renewing the group at the end of the year. Kal Penn (one of the members who signed the document) responded on Twitter saying "Lol Donald Trump, you can't break up with us after we broke up with you LMFAO."
NEW: White House responds to @kalpenn and others resigning the arts commission, says Trump was going to disband it anyway: pic.twitter.com/9Xi2mzN7av
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) August 18, 2017
You can read the full post on Scribd, courtesy of The Washington Post, below.
Members of the President's Commission on Arts & Humanities resignation letter to President Trump by Ed O'Keefe on Scribd