Dear President Roosevelt,

Five days ago, on May 14, 1939. 937 people boarded the St. Louis. Of those people were my cousin and her father. They had spent many months trying to get the special visa they needed to come on the journey. They had left there old life behind to start over.

They arrived in Cuba two days ago. They had been promised the right to enter Cuba. But when they got there they weren’t allowed off the boat. They stayed on the boat for many hours. In hope of being able to get off.

I am writing this letter because I think it is unfair that the US won’t accept these people. They gave up so much and spent so much time and effort to get here and now they are here and they aren’t allowed in.

Many people over the last few days have demanded that the government let them in. But you are not listening. I think it is disgusting that you are not letting these people in because they are Jewish.

Jews have a lot of power in this country and we are going to speak up. We want our voices to be heard. I WANT these Jews to be let in. I want my voice to be heard.

Sincerely,

Sarah Cohen