NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr.: My ancestors were refugees
As expected, President Donald Trump’s executive order barring citizens of seven Muslim nations from entering the United States has generated a hailstorm of social media posts.
NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. joined in late Saturday night with a post expressing empathy for refugees facing hardships.
Earnhardt tweeted that his own ancestors left Europe centuries ago to escape religious persecution.
In a tweet to Twitter user @GelarBudidarma, who identifies himself as a Muslim “mostly from” Bandung, Indonesia, Earnhardt wrote: “my fam immigrated from Germany in 1700s escaping religious persecution. America is created by immigrants.”
@GelarBudidarma my fam immigrated from Germany in 1700s escaping religious persecution. America is created by immigrants.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) January 29, 2017
Earnhardt’s Twitter page has more than 1.9 million followers. Several Twitter users responded directly to the tweet from the popular driver – he’s been voted NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver a record 13 times. Here’s a sampling.
@DaleJr @GelarBudidarma thank you for speaking up, I know a lot of folks in the country look up to you.
— Maureen (@mmaureen7) January 29, 2017
@DaleJr @GelarBudidarma Yes, LEGAL ones. As were mine. Illegals don't deserve to get a free ride
— D W Huggins (@dwhuggs) January 29, 2017
@DaleJr @GelarBudidarma pic.twitter.com/UpPZ1PbEY7
— Cassandra Petty (@cpetty777) January 29, 2017
@DaleJr @GelarBudidarma Why does everyone miss the whole illegal immigrants thing or not remember how we've temporarily closed our borders before? Rhetorical ques.
— Eric Pawlyshyn (@pawlyshyn) January 29, 2017
@DaleJr @WilkesDemocrats @GelarBudidarma from a 13th generation North Carolinian, thank you Dale Jr! This makes me so proud!
— Erin de Freitas (@Erin_deFreitas) January 29, 2017
@DaleJr @GelarBudidarma Thank you, sir. You’re a model for those who worry taking a stand might cost them something.
— Spencer Critchley (@scritchley) January 29, 2017
German roots
It’s not surprising that Earnhardt sees a link between his ancestors and current events.
According to USA Today, Earnhardt developed a passion for genealogy and exploring his family roots in 2012. The driver even proposed to his wife, Amy, on a trip to Germany to research his family tree in 2015.
Earnhardt popped the question in a church where his ancestors prayed more than 10 generations ago in the tiny town of Illesheim.
Earnhardt said he wanted a special place to propose and no other spot was “good enough or special enough for her."
Amy Earnhardt (nee Reimann) posted a photo of the couple inside the church on Twitter.
I'm completely overwhelmed with love & joy. Happiest girl in the world! I love you so much @DaleJr pic.twitter.com/lBxbFLJ4xf
— Amy Earnhardt (@AmyEarnhardt) June 17, 2015
This story was originally published January 29, 2017 at 9:11 PM with the headline "NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr.: My ancestors were refugees."