My name is Margot Hirsch. The US turned me away at the border in 1939.

[demmiblue]

Link to tweet

[LeftInTX]

1. Oh yeah, a lot were turned away

I believe before they could board a ship, they needed sponsors in the US.

[frazzled]

3. No, they were on ships that were turned away--fearing that they might have spies

It's a lot like the proposals to prevent refugees from coming here if they come from Muslim countries. The story of the MS St. Louis, with its 900 Jewish passengers is pretty famous.

https://thinkprogress.org/america-turned-away-jewish-refugees-because-some-were-feared-to-be-nazi-agents-b3f3524b182d#.6eey8d2mt

The fear was one that President Roosevelt offered further credence to a year after the MS St. Louis incident.
“At a press conference on June 5, 1940, FDR himself warned that ‘among the refugees there are some spies, as has been found in other countries,’ explaining that ‘especially Jewish refugees’ could be coerced to report to German agents under the threat that if they did not do so, ‘we are frightfully sorry, but your old father and mother will be taken out and shot,”

[demmiblue]

4. Thank you for including that link.

Here is more info at this link, if anybody is interested:

https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005267


Here is a radiogram (one of the many artifacts found at the linked site) from Moritz Schoenberger (survivor) on the "St. Louis"

On May 25, 1939, artist Moritz Schoenberger sent this radiogram (a telegram sent by radio) from the ocean liner "St. Louis" during the voyage from Hamburg, Germany, to Havana, Cuba. On this voyage, the "St. Louis" carried over 900 Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution. The telegram reads, in part, "Physically and spiritually recovered and invigorated most confident about reaching Havana Saturday. Money received. Many thanks. Kisses. Papa." Schoenberger's optimism proved unfounded. Cuban authorities refused entry to the refugees. After the United States also denied entry to the passengers, the "St. Louis" was forced to return to Europe. During the return voyage, Great Britain, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands agreed to accept the Jewish refugees. French authorities interned Mr. Schoenberger in southern France.

— US Holocaust Memorial Museum - Collections

[Bayard]

2. Oh my......

Wish that could find its way into Trump's breakfast. Not that it would make much difference to him.

History repeats itself.....

[demmiblue]

5. A few more:

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

-International Holocaust Remembrance Day-

[smirkymonkey]

6. I am feeling such a mixture of sadness and anger right now.

It is one thing to hear about it in general, but when you see their photos and know their stories it really hits so much harder.

[demmiblue]

7. Yep... and being a very visual person, some of those faces are burned in my mind.

I am glad that this man set up this twitter feed. Very powerful.

And I am glad that it is getting attention:

http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/27/us/twitter-bot-jewish-refugees/index.html?sr=twCNN012817twitter-bot-jewish-refugees1234AMStoryPhoto&linkId=33872431