January 30, 2017

Jared Kushner
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Jared,

We, the undersigned graduates of Harvard College, are your classmates and roommates, friends and acquaintances. We do not have the President’s ear, but you do, and we hope that we have yours.

You are the Senior White House Adviser to the President of the United States. We appeal to you to influence the Trump Administration, and Mr. Trump himself, in a positive way. We ask that you remember your grandparents, refugees from Nazi Germany, when the Administration shuts our nation’s borders to the millions around the world who are fleeing conflict. They are counting on you. The millions of undocumented persons who contribute their blood and sweat and taxes to our great nation are counting on you. Women and the LGBTQ community are counting on you. People of color are counting on you.

All Americans are counting on you.

Harvard's motto is simple.  It is just a single word: Veritas. Truth. We have seen disturbing signs that the Administration will suppress open thought and debate, silencing scientists and withdrawing their funding, attacking journalists and declaring them the “opposition party,” repeating falsehoods big and small. Truth. It is the guiding value of your alma mater; let it be a value in the Administration as well.

This great nation has afforded you and your family all the opportunities in the world, and you have succeeded beyond your ancestors’ imaginations. You have earned great material success and, now, enormous power. We ask that you use it to help ensure that this nation remains a beacon of freedom, opportunity and hope throughout the world.

We would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you, at your convenience, to share our concerns.

Respectfully,