Faith leaders address nation’s escalating protests and racial tensions following the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and others.
Bishop Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church:
“Opening and changing hearts does not happen overnight. The Christian race is not a sprint; it is a marathon. Our prayers and our work for justice, healing and truth-telling must be unceasing. Let us recommit ourselves to following in the footsteps of Jesus, the way that leads to healing, justice and love.”
“If I make room for you, and you make room for me, and if we will work together to create a society where there is room for all of God’s children, where every human being, every one of us is treated as a child of God, created in the image and likeness of God, where everybody is loved, everybody is honored, everybody is respected, everybody is created as a child of God. If we work together to build that kind of society and don’t give up, then love can save us all,”
Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
But as we recite the Mourner’s Kaddish for them all, we say now, again: We will not sit idly by. Our country simply cannot achieve the values of “justice for all” to which it aspires until we address ongoing racism in all sectors and at all levels of society. — Rabbi Jonah Pesner (@JonahPesner) May 31, 2020
Seven Catholic leaders with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
“We should all understand that the protests we are seeing in our cities reflect the justified frustration and anger of millions of our brothers and sisters who even today experience humiliation, indignity, and unequal opportunity only because of their race or the color of their skin. It should not be this way in America. Racism has been tolerated for far too long in our way of life.”
“Racism is not a thing of the past or simply a throwaway political issue to be bandied about when convenient. It is a real and present danger that must be met head on. As members of the church, we must stand for the more difficult right and just actions instead of the easy wrongs of indifference.”
.@ArchbishopGomez, #USCCB president, has issued a statement on #GeorgeFloyd and the protests in American cities that have taken place over the last several days: https://t.co/IKaTe0nDQ2. pic.twitter.com/hLJ2eyZNLb — U.S. Catholic Bishops (@USCCB) May 31, 2020
Omar Soleiman of the Yaqeen Institute
“Many cannot fathom the historic injustices commited by police against African Americans because, amongst other things, their experience with law enforcement has been protection rather than danger.”
Leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention
“Followers of Jesus Christ cannot remain silent when our brothers and sisters, friends and/or people we seek to win for Christ are mistreated, abused or killed unnecessarily”
This week has reminded us yet again that we have a long way to go in our work towards a more just society for all. We will not stop fighting for a world free of racism and bigotry in all of its forms. #JusticForGeorge #StandingTogether — The Jewish Federations of North America (@jfederations) May 31, 2020
“Systemic anti-Black racism within law enforcement and throughout the United States contributes directly to the deaths of unarmed Black people. This deadly problem has to change and the Sikh community must stand in unequivocal solidarity with Black Americans in our shared struggle to combat bigotry, racism, and hate.”
President Russell M. Nelson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
During the Savior’s earthly mission, He constantly ministered to those who were excluded, marginalized, judged, overlooked, abused, and discounted. As His followers, can we do anything less? The answer is no! We believe in freedom, kindness, and fairness for all of God’s children!
We join with many throughout this nation and around the world who are deeply saddened at recent evidences of racism and a blatant disregard for human life. https://t.co/Jm3nDwlAmd pic.twitter.com/ub99IUvMC6— Russell M. Nelson (@NelsonRussellM) June 1, 2020
The Salvation Army released a statement
“We are committed to fighting racism wherever it exists and will speak up wherever we encounter it. As we pray for God’s will to be done on earth as in heaven, The Salvation Army will work toward a world where all people are loved.”
The Central States Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
“As people of the Word, who believe in not only talking about God’s love but demonstrating God’s love, Isaiah 1:17 admonishes us to “Learn to do good; Seek justice; Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.” The wise man Solomon in Proverbs 18:5 reiterates “It is not right to acquit the guilty or deny justice to the innocent.”
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