Washington, DC — As people of diverse faith traditions, we condemn the use of violence, especially all forms of political violence. We are united in praying for the victims and the families of the National Guard Members targeted in the recent, tragic, DC shooting. Responding to violence with systemic harm against our immigrant siblings is unacceptable. We condemn the use of discriminatory immigration policies and collective blame that unjustly vilifies an entire community in response to isolated acts.
As faith organizations, we condemn recent policies targeting Afghans in the U.S. and abroad, asylum seekers awaiting asylum decisions, and immigrants from the nineteen travel ban countries. These policies build on a troubling pattern of denial and exclusion, marked by the dismantling of legal immigration pathways, the erosion of immigrant, refugee, and asylum-seeker rights, and the re-examination of all refugees admitted in the last four years. It is unacceptable to utilize this horrific event as a pretext to cast collective blame on all Afghans, refugees, and immigrants–and to amplify anti-Afghan, anti-Muslim, anti-refugee sentiment.
“As faith communities, we denounce political violence and mourn the loss from this horrific tragedy and we pray for the families of the victims,” said Rev. Noel Andersen, National Field Director of Church World Service and Co-chair of the Interfaith Immigration Coalition. “We should not allow such acts to result in collective blame that has ensued from the Trump administration’s rhetoric and new anti-immigrant policies attacking refugees, asylum seekers and green card holders. Instead, we have a moral responsibility to welcome and love our neighbors, understanding that each person is created in the image of God. As we come upon these sacred days for many of us, we remember that Jesus and the Holy family were also refugees and reflect on the call of Matthew 25 to see the face of Christ in the migrant.”
Kristyn Peck, CEO of Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area said, “We are heartbroken by this tragedy, and our prayers are with the families of U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolf. We are also concerned by the inflammatory rhetoric and series of reactionary policies targeting people from Afghanistan based on the actions of one individual. This is a time for unity, not division. Our shared faith traditions compel us to uphold the inherent dignity of every person. These sweeping actions inflict further harm on our neighbors and friends – many of whom served alongside U.S. forces – to whom we promised safety and solidarity.”
“As Quakers, we grieve the tragic targeting of two National Guard members in D.C. and the senseless loss of life. We unequivocally condemn this act of violence. Any response to such tragedy, though, should not deepen fear and cruelty. Violence—whether on our streets or through discriminatory policies—only adds to human suffering and undermines the search for our collective safety,” said Bridget Moix, General Secretary at the Friends Committee on National Legislation. “To blame entire immigrant communities for an isolated act is a violation of fundamental rights and a denial of that of God in each of us. As a nation we must choose justice, dignity, and real peacemaking instead.”
Sister Marie Lucey, Associate Director of Franciscan Action Network, said, “We Franciscans, committed to peacemaking and nonviolence as modeled by Saint Francis of Assisi, deplore both the shooting of National Guard members and the vilification of a whole community. The tragic shooting in DC was committed by one person. It is morally wrong and defies common sense to blame all Afghans, and even all migrant sisters and brothers, for the horrendous action of one man. Unfortunately, men, women, and children are victims of gun violence every day across our country, the shootings so frequent they do not make the headlines. We pray for the families and friends of one National Guard who died and the other struggling for life. We also pray with and for the families of thousands of people killed and wounded every day with guns because government officials, federal and local, refuse to enact meaningful gun regulations. We urge our government not to use this tragic shooting of two National Guards as an excuse to blame all Afghans, all migrants and refugees, for the action of one shooter. As followers of Jesus Christ, we pray in this Advent Season to the Prince of Peace for grace to be nonviolent, personally, communally, and politically.”
“Immigrants are essential and beloved parts of the fabric of this country and of our congregations,” said Rev. Amy Reumann, director of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Witness in Society office. “God grieves the sin of violence. We grieve violence against National Guard staff and pray for their safety and recovery and healing for their families. We also grieve violence against the millions of our immigrant neighbors who have suffered unprecedented attacks on their rights, dignity, and family unity. We pray for their safety and well-being. An indefinite pause on asylum applications, a halt to immigration benefits for Afghan nationals, and an entrenchment of a travel ban does not make our nation safer. Instead, it sows fear and uncertainty into the lives of people who have fled their country because of fear of persecution and violence, as well as their communities in the U.S. that have welcomed them. Asylum and immigration processing must resume immediately, without prejudice based on nation of origin.”
Pablo DeJesús, Executive Director of Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice, said: “Unitarian Universalists condemn the shooting of National Guard members in Washington, DC, and reject the use of violence, political or otherwise, to resolve differences. Our faith values respect and peace. We oppose using this tragedy to unjustly target migrants, refugees, and asylees unrelated to the incident. This shift furthers an anti-immigrant agenda that predates the shooting, ignoring that the U.S. is largely a nation of immigrants, with over 80% of Americans being descendants of settlers, indentured servants, asylees, and refugees. Today, many are also foreign-born. Most Americans share migrant legacies of some kind. Responding to violence with systemic cruelty is a moral failure, contradicting the ethos of our legal system and social norms. This persecution of immigrants is contrary to our freedom-loving, compassion-centered faith, as well as the standards we hold for our public and governance systems. We reject collective blame of refugees and asylees and, simultaneously, keep the victims and their families in our prayers.”
Fran Eskin-Royer, Executive Director, National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd said, “We join our voices with people of faith and good will who condemn the horrific shooting of the two members of the WV National Guard in DC. Our hearts are heavy with sorrow and filled with compassion for the victims and their families. We also denounce the Administration’s violent response to this event. Exploiting this tragedy by maligning Afghans and all immigrants and refugees living in the U.S. is unacceptable and the Administration’s ensuing policies are harmful and unjust. Respect for the dignity of every person, including every migrant, refugee and asylum seeker, is a core Good Shepherd value and we recognize the inherent worth of these women, men, children and families who enrich our lives immensely and strengthen our communities. We call on the Administration to stop demonizing immigrants and refugees through its harmful rhetoric, and immediately halt its recent immoral and unjust policies toward these communities who had no connection to the attack in Washington.”
“We in the United Church of Christ are devastated by the heartbreaking loss of Sarah Beckstrom and the shooting of Andrew Wolfe. We pray for Andrew’s continued recovery, and mourn with their loved ones,” said Rev. Michael Neuroth, Director of the United Church of Christ Office of Public Policy and Advocacy. “We denounce this violent act and the crisis of gun violence in our nation. In tandem, we also condemn the increased targeting of our immigrant siblings since the attack, and especially toward brave, resilient Afghan refugees who have already had to survive so much. Refugees and immigrants bring so much good to our communities. They deserve rights and to be welcomed, not dehumanized. As always, we say no to hate and yes to love, to the love that God has for each and every person. Peace is possible. A just world for all is possible, if only we work together, remembering our shared humanity, united as one people.”
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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