De Blasio: Trump, Cruz Playing Into ISIS' Hands
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio kept up his attacks on Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Ted Cruz over their stances on policing Muslims and immigration from predominately Muslim countries.
De Blasio accused the two candidates of, as he put it, confirming ISIS propaganda.
"ISIS is trying to tell the Muslim world that America won't accept Muslim people and here are two men running for president of the United States literally playing into ISIS' hands as if they're working from an ISIS script, setting up an atmosphere of segregation and negativity," he said, WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported.
De Blasio added that their comments suggest to many Muslim Americans that they will not be welcomed or feel a sense of belonging in America.
"People come here from all over the world, every background, every faith, with the goal of being here and being part of this culture and achieving the opportunities that are available only here," the mayor said.
NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton also recently spoke out regarding some Republicans' rhetoric on Muslims.
He pointed out that nearly 1 million Muslims live in New York City.
"I have several thousand – including almost 1,000 New York City police officers, many of who are veterans; many of whom are combat veterans," Bratton said. "So for [Cruz] or any presidential candidate to disparage the men and women who are working to secure this country and this city, shame on them."