Faith leaders Across Traditions are United in Welcoming Haitians and All People Seeking Safety and Refuge
Washington, DC – Following the recent false statements targeting Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, several faith leaders denounced the statements as dehumanizing, racist, and incongruent to the sacred call to love our neighbor as we would ourselves. The Haitian community in Ohio–as well as around the nation–include people and families we recognize as neighbors, leaders, entrepreneurs, and friends. They have demonstrated their ability to revitalize and contribute to their new communities in countless ways.
As people of faith, across organizations, denominations, and congregations from various faith traditions, we believe in loving our neighbor and welcoming newcomers. This is consistent with our sacred scriptures and our traditions. Through our experiences, we continue to meet and develop relationships with immigrants who are an essential part of our communities and are contributing to our economy and the collective wellbeing.
False statements like these are stoking fear across the country, with devastating consequences for our communities. Notably numerous bomb threats have been called in to schools, hospitals, and other places in Springfield. Haitians, other new neighbors, and their allies are worried for their safety.
As faith communities, we ask all politicians, from all parties, to halt all anti-immigrant rhetoric meant to instill fear, and instead use language and enact practices that promote mutual respect and care for all.
Michael Neuroth, Director, United Church of Christ Office of Public Policy & Advocacy stated: “As people of faith, called to love our neighbors as ourselves, the United Church of Christ denounces all xenophobic, racist, and violent reactions against immigrants in the U.S. and stands with the Haitian immigrant community during this time. Haiti is currently facing a severe humanitarian crisis marked by political instability, gang violence, and economic hardship. These vile words and actions undermine the vision of building a Beloved Community, a nation in which peace, justice, and security is shared by all. Words matter, and this will not be the last time those with power attempt to degrade and exclude immigrants in our community for political or personal gain. As people of faith and conscience, we denounce all dehumanizing rhetoric, stand together against hate, and commit to taking action for all immigrants who face bigotry and marginalization in the U.S.”
David Steele, Church of the Brethren General Secretary, stated: “False accusations made recently against a group of Haitian migrants and the community where they have found a home in Springfield, Ohio, resulted last week in bomb threats targeting the City Hall and an elementary school, among other buildings, and forced evacuations of portions of the city. Such hateful acts are a wake-up call in this period of time in our country, an impetus to renew our faithfulness to God, who has created all people in his image; to renew our bonds of love and fellowship through the Holy Spirit, our divine comforter; and to renew our discipleship to Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. We are called by our faith to care for those who are the targets of violence—both verbal as well as physical threats. Please join with me in extending caring to migrants across our country, and to the Haitian-American community and the people of Springfield in particular. Please join me in reaching out with love to the Haitians here in the United States and in Haiti.”
Intercultural Ministry Advisory Committee of the Church of the Brethren stated: “In recent years, Donald Trump has spoken ill of Mexicans and violence has been directed against persons who speak Spanish in our homeland. Then he evoked a travel ban against Muslims and more violence against real persons occurred. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese-Americans and other Asians were targeted for abuse and today our Haitian neighbors are under attack after hurtful and false claims were hurled at them. This is beyond a political concern. Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves and to treat others as we would want them to treat us. The Church of the Brethren desires to be Jesus in the neighborhood. Now is the time to do more than say so. Let us love one another and reject rhetorical violence which leads to the harm, suffering and death of God’s beloved children.”
Ronnate Asirwatham, Government Relations Director, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, stated: “Racism cannot be tolerated in the United States or anywhere in the world. We are thankful to the people of Springfield, Ohio who have come together to support Haitian immigrants in their city, and we are thankful to all people of Haitian descent, immigrants and citizens alike, who gave so much to so many U.S. cities by their presence, courage, and entrepreneurial spirit. Pope Francis said in his World Day of Migrants and Refugees message that all of us, God’s people, are migrants on this earth. Let us remember that and work against racism and discrimination of any kind and call on all political parties and all candidates not to resort to false, demeaning, and racist rhetoric to cover up their inability to campaign or govern.”
Elket Rodriguez, Global Migration Advocate, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, stated: “It is deeply troubling and unacceptable that in a nation built on the spirit, sacrifice, and contributions of immigrants, public figures resort to demonizing and dehumanizing our Haitian brothers and sisters in Springfield, Ohio. Such harmful rhetoric not only spreads falsehoods but also endangers entire communities. The teachings of Christ reject racism, xenophobia, and all forms of hatred. These cannot be reconciled with the principles of our faith. We stand in solidarity with the Haitian community and all those affected by such rhetoric, trusting that people of goodwill will join in denouncing hate and working together toward justice, dignity, and the beloved community.”
Sister Marie Lucey, OSF, Associate Director of Franciscan Action Network, said: “We Franciscans call ourselves and others to respect the dignity of human persons, all created in the image of God. Dehumanizing, false, racist language, such as that used against the Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio, must not be tolerated. In this heated pre-election season we call on all candidates in all political parties not to resort to false, demeaning, racist rhetoric designed to stoke fear and which has destructive consequences for immigrant communities and the cities and towns in which they live and work. Jesus taught that we must welcome the stranger, and Francis of Assisi called his followers to be peacemakers in our personal lives and in society. We members of FAN are challenged to ‘read the signs of our times, critique abuses of power, and follow an ethic based on the inviolable dignity of all people.’ We, in turn, challenge all candidates for public office to be truthful and respectful in their messaging.”
Kristyn Peck, CEO, Lutheran Social Service of the National Capital Area stated: “The false narrative shared about Haitians is dehumanizing, harmful, and should have no place in our national political discourse. We must ask ourselves what kind of neighbors we want to be and what type of community we want to build. Spreading these baseless claims, rooted in fear and racism, only deepens the harm for families who came to the United States seeking safety.”
Fran Eskin-Royer, Executive Director of the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, stated: “We are distressed and disappointed with the turn that the election has taken against immigrants and particularly Haitians in the TPS (Temporary Protected Status) program. Efforts by people to vilify and “other” Haitians corrodes the dignity of each of us. We all are children of God; one family in the United States. Our diversity makes us stronger. Tearing down others, does not. May we strive to embody the best of the vision of our nation’s founders, countering fear of the other with welcome and lauding the richness that comes from differences.”
Rev. Carlos S. Reyes Rodríguez, Culture & Outreach Manager, Immigration Law & Justice Network, stated: “ILJ Network rejects the racist attacks made by former President Donald Trump and supported by JD Vance against the Haitian community in Springfield, Ohio. Such harmful rhetoric puts Haitian and Black communities around the country at risk. As an organization that values equality, immigration justice, and human sacredness, we denounce candidates and their discriminatory political strategies that threaten the well-being of already targeted groups. We are committed and invite the public to call out those politicians and media outlets that continue using historical racist tactics to gain votes or popular validation. There should be no space for behaviors and language that dehumanize immigrants. Instead, let us rise together and, with courage, co-build an inclusive present where all communities are treated with respect and dignity.”
Dylan Corbett, Executive of the Hope Border Institute in El Paso-Ciudad Juárez, stated: “Three years after the distressing events in Del Rio, hate against Haitian communities continues to be stoked at the highest political levels. Borderland communities know too well the consequences of hate. That’s why we join in solidarity with our Haitian neighbors and all Black migrants under threat right now. Hate and pain shouldn’t have the final word. Our collective work across diverse faiths and backgrounds to create welcoming communities continues.”
Rev. Kendal L. McBroom, Director of Civil and Human Rights at the UMC General Board of Church and Society, stated: “Church and Society denounces and opposes the rise of xenophobic, racist, and violent reactions against migrants in the United States, and supports all efforts to build unifying relationships with all people, instead of promoting harmful narratives among diverse ethnicities and cultures that divide us. We stand in solidarity and struggle with the Haitian community, trusting that God and people of good faith will join alongside them in denouncing hate, thriving, and doing the work of the beloved community.”
Danilo Zak, Director of Policy at Church World Service stated: “CWS condemns dehumanizing language unjustly attacking our Haitian neighbors. Our nation’s diverse faith traditions affirm a respect for the dignity of every person, and we strongly believe that our collective success starts with every member of our communities having access to the resources that they need to thrive and flourish. We urge members of Congress to condemn hateful and racist rhetoric, to embrace our new Haitian neighbors, and to fortify federal programs that help newcomers become economically self-sufficient and contributors to the vitality of our nation. We specifically call on our elected leaders to provide emergency funding to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which directly supports community efforts to provide integration services, such as job training, English language classes, and school-based support for Haitians and other newcomer populations.”
Pablo DeJesús, Executive Director, Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, stated: “The recent anti-immigrant, anti-Black invective and threats of violence aimed at Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are unacceptable. Our Unitarian Universalist tradition asks us to ‘engage with the movement, in our communities and nation, to heal the evil of racism’ and ‘to protect and assist immigrants and asylum seekers.’ It is reprehensible that certain politicians feel free to stoke fear and exploit division for political gain. It is a moral failure of our electoral culture that certain politicians are willing to disseminate lies about immigrants, target Black people, and spur their supporters to flirt with violence as they pursue high office. These types of malicious statements about Caribbean immigrants and others have a long history and particular context in the U.S. Our denomination has resolved ‘to make our congregations and communities authentically multicultural, multiracial, anti-oppressive spaces that dismantle anti-Blackness.’ We think keeping our families and neighborhoods safe should be a top priority. We cherish the liberty to move at will in our communities. We should be free from violence and political assault, whether at the gas pump, grocery store, or our houses of worship and voting centers. We pledge to continue that important welcoming and antiracist work. We know we are called by the Holy to love our neighbors and to welcome the stranger. Our candidates for high office should lead their supporters in that direction.”
The Interfaith Immigration Coalition is made up of over 56 national, faith-based organizations brought together across many theological traditions with a common call to seek just policies that lift up the God-given dignity of every individual. In partnership, we work to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of all refugees and migrants. Follow us on Twitter @interfaithimm
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