MRFF’s Efforts Lead to Military Times’ Coverage of Congressman's Insensitivity to the Jewish Faith

Wednesday Evening, September 21, 2022

MRFF's RESOLUTE EFFORTS LEAD TO

MILITARY TIMES’ COVERAGE OF

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JUAN VARGAS' (D-CA)

INSENSITIVITY TO THE JEWISH FAITH

"Service Academy Night held on Rosh Hashanah excludes your many Jewish constituents, is insensitive to their religious faith, and goes against the Democratic platform of inclusion and diversity."

—Mikey Weinstein

Congressman Juan Vargas (D-CA)

MILITARY TIMES

COVERS MRFF

Congressman called out for scheduling

military event on Jewish holiday

By: Jonathan Lehrfeld

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

[Bold and red highlights added by MRFF]

Military Times covers MRFF’s demand that Congressman Juan Vargas (D-CA) change the date of his district’s upcoming “Service Academy Night” from its presently scheduled date of September 26, which is the Jewish holy day of Rosh Hashanah, and Vargas’s refusal to do so, thereby denying Jewish students in his district from the equal opportunity of learning about the military’s service academies.

“A Service Academy Night held on Rosh Hashanah excludes your many Jewish constituents, is insensitive to their religious faith, and goes against the Democratic platform of inclusion and diversity,” Michael Weinstein, the group’s founder and president, said in the note.

“It also hinders the Department of Defense’s goal of developing a diverse officer corps that reflects the public it services.”

Click to read on Military Times

BACKGROUND

Jewish students in California's 51st Congressional District

will not be offered the same opportunity to explore a career

as a military officer as their Christian counterparts, thanks

to U.S. Representative Juan Vargas (D-CA). Why? Because Congressman Vargas, in an egregious affront to his constituents of the Jewish faith, has scheduled his district's "Service Academy Night" for September 26, the Jewish High Holy Day of Rosh Hashanah, excluding observant Jews from the opportunity of meeting with officers from the various service branches and

learning about the U.S. military service academies!

Despite a demand from MRFF, Congressman Vargas is refusing to change the date of the event, leaving interested Jewish students with only the anti-Semitic sloppy seconds of watching it later on video, with no opportunity to meet the officers or ask questions.

Would the congressman have scheduled such an event on

Easter or Christmas or Good Friday? Of course not!

But those are the "important" religion's holy days.

MRFF's 9/20/22 letter to Congressman Vargas demanding that he change the date of his district's

"Service Academy Night" to afford an equal opportunity to Jewish students

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Click to enlarge and read letter

"Thank You! (and a semi-short sea story)"

From: (name withheld)

Subject: Thank You! (and a semi-short sea story)

Date: September 19, 2022 at 12:57:20 PM MDT

To: mikey@militaryreligiousfreedom.org

Hello Mikey,

I have read about some of what you have accomplished for the last 20 years.. I wanted to thank you personally. I have run into religious Bias in the last 30 year at the VA. The last time was in the Lab at the Riverview clinic in Fl (SHVA) the Tech taking my blood had jesus covering her cubicle almost like wallpaper. I talked about feeling a bit put out as an atheist so I talked about it on the Atheist Community of Discord (ACD). Affiliated with the Atheist community of Austin (ACA). One of the members told me I could do something about it.

I had worked with the patient advocate in Tampa several times and emailed them about the problem. They responded with a copy of the VA rules about religious displays. I answered that there were no other religions portrayed in this display as required by their own rules. I then got a call from the head of the Lab. He said that he had counselled all the lab techs, and the situation was resolved. Not too surprising as I have the PA on speed dial and am a thorn in their side at times (Grin)

Next visit I confirmed that there were no posters or other religious Iconography on the walls. They had done what they said they would do.

Small victory but, an effortless fix for me. If everyone looks out for themselves (or others) and refuses to accept proselytization in public buildings, we will win this fight. Though I accept that there are dangers and respect people who may not want or can’t to take that on.

(name withheld)

_______

Once again you are an inspiration to military veterans who believe in the Constitution. I am doing more advocacy with the ACD and ACA. If I can help let me know. I signed that check as well; my oath still holds.

Click to read in Inbox

“Gratitude and Respect”

From: MRFF Client’s E-mail Address Withheld

Subject: Gratitude and Respect

Date: September 20, 2022 at 8:33:06 PM MDT

To: Mikey Weinstein <mikey@militaryreligiousfreedom.org>

Dear Mikey and the MRFF team,

I am deeply honored by your gift of an MRFF challenge coin. I knew nothing of your work before I met Mikey a year ago. What I have since learned about the mission and accomplishments of MRFF continues to amaze and inspire me. Your work to ensure and uphold freedom from religious abuse and discrimination in the military shouldn’t be needed, but it is needed, and so important. Profound respect to you all for fighting the hard fight, for lifting up individuals and institutions, for persevering in the face of resistance, vitriol, and outright physical danger, for doing The Right Thing always.

Thank you for your continuing service to this country.

(MRFF Client’s name, title and Federal Agency all withheld)