The New York Post reported Saturday that former Arizona Wildcats forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, a practicing Muslim, criticized President Trump’s immigration ban, calling it “BS.”
The comments by Hollis-Jefferson, a member of the Brooklyn Nets, came as Trump signed an executive order which bans citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the country over the next 90 days. Trump also discontinued the Syrian refugee program.
“We try to teach people not to point the finger, blame a whole (group),” Hollis-Jefferson is quoted as saying. “You can’t judge a whole group by one’s actions at the end of the day. And I feel like that’s not right. That’s definitely not right.
“You can’t speak for all Muslims, because all Muslims’ hearts aren’t like that. Most of them are pure, really believe in a different way and a different livelihood.”
Hollis-Jefferson reportedly became emotional turning away from reporters trying to compose himself while speaking at Minnesota’s Target Center before the Nets’ game against the Timberwolves.
“This is kind of hard. My bad. This is kind of touching … just being a part of that community and a part of that family,’’ Hollis-Jefferson said. “I feel like this should definitely be handled differently, and I feel like more people should definitely speak up and act on it just because it’s BS at the end of the day.”
Hollis-Jefferson later in the evening offered this tweet on the subject:
People can say what they want, but being denied ACCESS to see your grandchild graduate or to go back to your country is inhumane. #MuslimBan
— R.HollisJefferson (@RondaeHJ24) January 29, 2017
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