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Reparations Now!There is no racial reconciliation without reparations. Nearly 4 million African slaves were worth some $3.5 billion, making them the largest single financial asset in the entire U.S. economy, worth more than all manufacturing and railroads combined. Our ancestors built this country on unpaid labor. This corporation of the United States of America is still functioning on structural racism. We have solutions! We have developed a comprehensive blueprint for reparations. We are also ready to learn more from our community as to how we can close financial gaps and abolish the disenfranchisement of African Americans in WI permanently. This blueprint is a healing process that will address the spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, educational, cultural and financial well- being of a diaspora of africans who have never had the opportunity to properly heal in Wisconsin. Please join us in fighting for reparations. Sign & share the petition!168 of 200 SignaturesCreated by ReBecca Wigley
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#PardonRicky to Prevent a Lifelong New Yorker's Banishment to a Country He Doesn't KnowDeporting a lifelong New Yorker for struggling with addiction is cruel, and Governor Hochul could easily stop it by granting him a pardon!360 of 400 SignaturesCreated by nathan yaffe
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Release Angel Argueta Anariba from ICE detention and reunite him with his son and community!Angel Argueta Anariba fled Honduras in 1998 in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch to support his family. While in the United States, Mr. Argueta celebrated the birth of his son, worked in construction, and sent money back to Honduras to take care of loved ones. Unfortunately, Mr. Argueta has been in ICE detention since 2014, after serving several years at Otisville Prison in New York State for a prior conviction. He has now been in ICE detention longer than the original prison sentence he served. In Mr. Argueta’s own words, “In the past seven years, ICE has transferred me 14 times to different jails across six different states, including New York, New Jersey, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. At many of these detention centers, I have been physically abused, threatened with deportation, and told to my face that I will only leave here on a plane to my country or dead.” Mr. Argueta spends 23 hours of his day in his cell. He faces routine discrimination and neglect of his needs–from his most basic needs for food, water and sanitary living conditions to his health care needs and more. He also faces ongoing retaliation for demanding his rights be respected. He has filed countless complaints against the facility due to the violations of his human rights which have gone entirely unaddressed. In the midst of a global public health crisis, he is at high risk of contracting COVID-19, including long-COVID health complications due to his asthma and other health issues. Mr. Argueta has participated in multiple hunger strikes to demand that his basic rights be met. His longest hunger strike lasted for 34 days. Mr. Argueta recently won a decision from the Second Circuit Court of Appeals that will allow him to continue fighting to stay in this country permanently based on his fear of persecution in Honduras. He needs to be released so he can fight his case in the community. While in detention he learned English, obtained his G.E.D., worked as the teacher’s assistant to assist others in math, and helped many others pass their G.E.D. tests. He has goals of working to support his family and being an advocate for other immigrants. No one deserves to be isolated from their families for this long. Grant Mr. Argueta bond on Tuesday, April 5th. Learn more about the horrible ICE conditions Mr. Argueta has faced here: https://theintercept.com/2022/03/31/ice-detention-climate-crisis-migrants/ https://theintercept.com/2021/02/19/ice-detention-cold-freezing-texas-louisiana/1,045 of 2,000 SignaturesCreated by Kate Johnson Powers
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It’s Time To Pass ReparationsReparations are needed in order to heal the racial tensions and divisions within culture. Black people in the United States have been demanding reparations for centuries because of the gross physical, psychological, spiritual, cultural, and economic violence inflicted upon them by the U.S. government. While centuries have passed since the first Africans were forced into chatel slavery, their pain continues to pass down from generation to generation in the form of systemic racism and inequality. Reparations are an attempt to help heal our nation from this pain in the form of compensation, healing, education, restitution, and guarantees that the U.S. government will never engage in harming Black people again. We believe that in order for reparations to be viable, they must respond to the needs of descendants of formerly enslaved Black Americans in ways that address issues of structural racism and inequality. We believe that local, state, and federal policymakers should advance reparations inclusive of the following: All descendents of formerly enslaved Black Americans must be issued individual payments at a level that directly correlates with the racial wealth gap that currently exists between White and Black individuals and families. While White Americans exploited the labor of formerly enslaved Black Americans, these payments can help their descendants build economic power, especially those living in poverty as a direct result of slavery. All descendents of formerly enslaved Black Americans should have free college tuition to any 4-year or 2-year college or university. For decades, Black Americans were denied entry and access to higher education. In order to close the education gap that has structurally put Black Americans at a disadvantage, all financial barriers to higher education should be eliminated. All descendents of formerly enslaved Black Americans who currently have student loan debt should have that debt forgiven. Sustained strategic investments should be made to strengthen the Black community including business and startup grants for Black owned businesses; strategic investment in healthcare systems that serve Black communities; as well as strategic investments to schools that primarily serve Black Americans. The state should provide free mental health services and healthcare to all descendents of formerly enslaved Black Americans. All descendants of formerly enslaved Black Americans should be offered down payment grants and housing revitalization grants for their homes. Where the theft of land and community has occurred or continues, local protections and strategies should be employed to return what was stolen to Black and Indigenous communities; protect Black communities from gentrification and other forms of exploitation; and commemorate the loss of life from past massacres, lynchings, and other forms of racial violence. All formerly incarcerated people should have their voting rights restored; and three-strike laws and mandatory minimum laws (which were designed to exacerbate the incarceration of Black and poor people) should be abolished. While there are various approaches to reparations being advocated across social justice movements, we believe these are some of the key approaches that policymakers must consider as a part of developing reparations. We are calling on local, state, and federal leaders to make a long-term commitment to advance reparations today! Co-Signers The Truth Telling Telling Project of Ferguson National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (N’COBRA) Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth (RJOY) Coming to the Table RVA Coming to the Table National Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity Fellowship of Reconciliation Atlanta Savannah Center for Jubilee and Reconciliation Racial Justice Rising, Western MA Psychoanalysis for Social Responsibility Potbangerz St.Louis Sophia Project StLouis Center for Educational Equity779 of 800 SignaturesCreated by Groundswell Movement
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An Appeal to Christians Against the False Doctrines of White Christian NationalismGod calls us to explicitly reject every form of white Christian nationalism. We appeal to all Christians to affirm that Christ alone is the source of our faith, hope, and love. Interpretations of Christian faith tainted by racism, nationalism, or the desire for domination are idolatry. Initial Signatories: Audrey Arechiga-Kajs, Fort Worth, TX Elder Jeremy Auullt, Milwaukee, WI Rev. Ivy Beckwith, Cleveland, OH Dr. Lyla Best, Watford City, North Dakota Rev. Lindsey Borden, New York, NY Elle Peare Cason, New York, NY Elder Peg Corwin, Endicott, NY Rev. Chris Dela Cruz, Portland, OR Jane Derickson, Highstown, NJ Rev. Tom F. Driver, Ph. D, East Windsor, NJ Rev. Alistair John Drummond, Invorgordon, Scotland The Rev. Dr. Cheryl Ann Elfond, Endwell, NY Elmer Ewing, Ithaca, NY Rev. Dr. Bryan James Franzen, San Jose, CA Elder Christine Gorman, New York, NY Michèle Gorman, Concord, CA Rev. Duncan Hanson, Ph.D., Seattle, WA John Hesford, Red Wing, MN Rev. Laura Jervis, New York, NY Steve Knowles, Gonzales, CA Anne Leader, Ph.D., Auburn, Al Wendy Linscott, Howick, South Africa Doug Linscott, Howick, South Africa Angie Loannidis, Whitmore Lake, MI Rev. Anne McAnelly, Santa Cruz, CA Rebecca L. Mebert, Binghamton, NY E.F. McGee, DDS, MBA Rev. Michelle Moe, Phoenix, AZ Rev. Kenneth Moe, Phoenix, AZ Pastor Jethro Moore II, San Jose, CA Rev. William E. Myers, Traverse City, MI Rev. Dr. William C. Myers, Traverse City, MI Rev. Cynthia Rose Parr, Marietta, GA Rev. Stephen H. Phelps, New York, NY Brooke Pierce, New York, NY Rev. Steve Pinkston, San Jose, CA Rev. Tomas Pistore, Kenton, OH Rev. Cheryl Pyrch, Pennsylvania, PA Pastor Catherine Renken, Kennesaw, GA Mark Rutledge-Gorman, Portland, OR Catherine Rutledge-Gorman, Portland, OR Erica Ramirez, Ph.D. Rev. Dr. Patrick J. Ryan, Bronx, NY Margaret Bacon Schulze, San Francisco, CA Rev. Dr. Joseph Sellepack, Broome County, NJ Dr. Milton C. Sernett, Syracuse, NY Rev. Byron Shafer, Ph.D., Highstown, NJ Rev. Dr. J. Richard Short, Roswell, GA Martha Somers, MD, South Point, OH Rev. Andrew Stehlik, New York, NY Rev. Henry Sun, Ph.D., Benicia, CA Norman J. Teller, Schenectady, NY Rev. Patricia Tull, Ph.D., Louisville, KY Emrys Tyler, Pagosa Springs, CA Frances Unsell, Darien, CT Rev. Arthur O. Van Eck, Fife Lake, MI Steve A. Wiggins, Ph.D., Hellertown, PA Rev. George Williamson, New York, NY Jill Wright Rev. Judy Wrought Cradling Institutions: Auburn Theological Seminary Rutgers Presbyterian Church (All biblical quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version.)1,016 of 2,000 SignaturesCreated by Groundswell Movement
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We Stand With Rev. Warnock and For Moral Leadership In Our PoliticsWe know all too well that it’s not enough for our political leaders to identify as people of faith if they actively fight against economic and racial justice. Many congressional leaders have done that over the years. Instead, we need to see faith in action. Faith without works is dead! We stand by leaders like Senators Warnock and Ossoff, who have committed to infuse new moral leadership into our national politics. As Warnock said in an MSNBC interview after his election, “I was [inspired] by the ways in which [Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.] used his faith to bring people together to solve big problems in the public square.” We the undersigned stand with Rev. Warnock and other political leaders who, grounded in justice and love for all, are committed to doing the same. (photo source: Jon Ossoff [@ossoff] Twitter)876 of 1,000 SignaturesCreated by Groundswell Movement
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Tell Illinois Congress Members to Support PPC 1st 100 Day PrioritiesThe Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival continues to push the new federal administration to support the 14 Policy Priorities and establish plans of action for the first 100 days of office. As the new administration takes seat in DC, it is equally important that Illinois legislators support the priorities to ensure that the US Congress works alongside the administration to support a new moral and economic agenda. On behalf of the 140 million poor and low-income people in the country, the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival – and our 45 state coordinating committees, thousands of religious leaders, scholars, economists, advocates and hundreds of supporting organizations – insists that the following policies from the Poor People’s Jubilee Platform take precedence during the first 50-100 days of the new administration and 117th Congress. Our 14 Policy Priorities: 1. Enact comprehensive, free and just COVID-19 relief 2. Guarantee quality health care for all, regardless of any pre-existing conditions 3. Raise the minimum wage to $15 / hour immediately 4. Update the poverty measure 5. Guarantee quality housing for all 6. Enact a federal jobs program to build up investments, infrastructure, public institutions, climate resilience, energy efficiency and socially beneficial industries and jobs in poor and low-income communities 7. Protect and expand voting rights and civil rights 8. Guarantee safe, quality and equitable public education, with supports for protection against re-segregation 9. Comprehensive and just immigration reform 10. Ensure all of the rights of indigenous peoples 11. Enact fair taxes 12. Use the power of executive orders 13. Redirect the bloated Pentagon budget towards these priorities as matters of national security 14. Work with the Poor People’s Campaign to establish a permanent Presidential Council to advocate for this bold agenda136 of 200 SignaturesCreated by Illinois Poor People's Campaign
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Demand Secretaries of State ensure fair and just statewide electionsTo: Secretaries of State More than 222,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. We are faith leaders who face this election with the gravity of burial rites, sitting virtual shiva, and praying the Janazah for our people. Before this pandemic began, we were wary of the death toll. Nearly 700 people a day were dying of poverty before the pandemic. 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions teeter on the edge of losing health insurance now. 140 million Americans, and growing, are low-income or poor. In 2016, over 1 million voters were denied their right to vote because of systemic racist voter suppression laws. As of today, the Senate has failed to renew the Voting Rights Act for 2,680 days. We cannot face this election season without their voices and stories within us. We cannot silently bury another member of our church, mosque or synagogue. We know who we are voting for this election season—every one of the 222,000 forever silenced. Every one of the 1 million-plus disenfranchised from voting. Every one of the 133 million, of the 140 million. Every one of us. Among our spiritual ancestors are those who endured violence and intimidation at every turn in order to vote: Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, Sister Antona, the Rev. James Reeb, and Jimmie Lee Jackson. Protecting our democracy and the right to vote is our sacred duty. We call on you now drawing from our collective moral center to insist that you fulfill your duty to execute a fair and just election that protects our democracy. We implore you to count every vote and ensure that voters are free of intimidation and harassment. As faith leaders in communities, we know that people are scared. We implore you to ensure voter safety in your states. It is our collective sacred duty to ensure a just democracy. In his famous line which has echoed across generations, the English poet John Donne wrote that we should “never send to ask for whom the bell tolls / it tolls for Thee.” When he wrote those words, church bells in an English village were used to call the community together for funerals. This year, as more than 7 million Americans have contracted covid-19 and over 222,000 have died, we have used bells, pots and pans to mark the evening shift changes by honoring the frontline healthcare workers who risk their lives every day to care for the sick. They do not have to ask for whom the bells toll. They toll for everyone who has stepped up to do their part in the midst of this global crisis. On November 3rd, in each of the 50 states, faith leaders and their communities will ring the bells, cast votes and publicly pray for a just democracy. We petition you to fulfill your role in this Election Season by ensuring all votes are counted and the election is free of intimidation and harassment. In the abiding Spirit of Love and Justice, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II President, Repairers of the Breach Co-Chair, Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis Executive Director, Kairos Center Co-Chair, Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival Rev. Dr. Iva Carruthers General Secretary, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference Rev. Dr. Alvin O’Neal Jackson, D. Min. National Executive Director, Poor People’s Campaign Min. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove School for Conversion Rev. Abhi P. Janamanchi Senior Minister, Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church Bethesda, Maryland Rev. Dr. Beth Johnson Minister, Palomar UU Fellowship Vista, California Rabbi Rick Jacobs President, Union for Reform Judaism Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner Director, Religious Action Center Senior Vice President, Union for Reform Judaism354 of 400 SignaturesCreated by Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference
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Tell Congress to Create the Reparations Commission for Black AmericansThe poison which resides in the soul of America is being exposed in this moment of proclamation that Black Lives Matter. It is in this moment that U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee has embraced Rev. Martin Luther King's “Why We Can't Wait” as the framing for the passage of HR-40. HR-40 demands remedies and reparations for the centuries of injustice and trauma suffered by African Americans in the United States. The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference and faith partners affirm the historic and continuing commitment and role the faith community plays in the advancement of reparatory justice and reparations for people of African descent. In 1894, Ms. Callie House and Rev. Isaiah H. Dickerson, along with four other pastors, launched the reparations movement, incorporating the National Ex-Slave and Mutual Relief Bounty and Pension Association. And with each generation thereafter, efforts have persisted to advance the call and cause to amend for the wrongs, repair the damage, and reckon with the past to right the future. People of faith are uniquely called and positioned to stay the course. Voices of the Black church, and recently, over the past twenty years from spaces within the white church, have pierced the silence around the complicity and role of the Church in the Transatlantic Slave Trade system, it's sacred rhetoric, academic institutions and their enduring consequences. The time for reparations is well overdue. In his 1964 watershed book, Why We Can't Wait, Martin Luther King declared: “While no amount of gold could provide adequate compensation for the exploitation of the Negro American down through the centuries, a price could be placed on unpaid wages.” The late Black theologian ministry leaders like James Hal Cone, Katie Cannon, Gayraud Wilmore, Robina Winbush, James Foreman and Theressa Hoover, to name a few, made the case and call to the Church. Denominations, including the United Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ, Episcopalians and Presbyterians have even offered resolutions of confession, apologies for slavery and /or calls for dealing with reparations. Further, The 2004 Accra Confession attests that the issue of justice and reparations in the United States is also wedded to issues of reparations, debt relief and justice in Africa. In this evidentiary moment of racialized police violence, consequences of a global pandemic and political arguments for authoritarianism over democratic principles, America cannot wait and the world awaits. We, the undersigned faith leaders and organizations, declare that the moral compass and agency of religious institutions and leaders must be on the right side of the sacred texts and history. The silence of faith communities, old and new, must be pierced to unleash a new way forward toward reparatory justice and reparations. The evil causes and consequences of the enslavement of people of African descent, the truths about the original sins upon which the nation was founded must be acknowledged and addressed. Reparations requires truth-telling and a historical reckoning, justice not charitable giving, confession and atonement, commitment to non-repeat and restitution in a myriad of ways. The fact that the New York Stock Exchange sits upon a burial ground of enslaved Africans is quite telling and symbolic, but it must be understood that reparations can never be reduced to a heartless apology and a financial transaction. As an issue of justice, reparations is a journey of healing. We join the efforts of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, the National African American Reparations Commission and the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America to advance the cause for reparations and bring the light and works of true healing and justice to this nation. We support HR-40, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, and the Congressional Black Caucus as they continue the forward movement of the national legislation. “We Can't Wait” because we have waited long enough. For this nation and all who are heirs to its legacy, “This is the Overdue Season!” Rev. Dr. Iva E. Carruthers General Secretary, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Inc. Chicago, IL Bishop Leah D. Daughtry Co-chair, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Inc. National Presiding Prelate, House of Lord Churches Washington DC Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III Co-chair, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Inc. Senior Pastor, Friendship West Baptist Church Dallas, TX Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II President, Repairers of the Breach Goldsboro, NC Rev. Traci Blackmon Associate General Minister of Justice and Local Church Ministries United Church of Christ Cleveland, OH David Crawford President, McCormick Theological Seminary Chicago, IL Rev. Ronnie Galvin Vice President for Racial Equity and the Democratic Economy Democracy Collaborative Washington, DC Rev. Dr. Michael Nabors Senior Pastor, Second Baptist Church Evanston, IL Bishop Frank Madison Reid III Ecumenical Officer, A.M.E. Church Presiding Prelate, Third Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Church Baltimore, MD Rev. Dr. Robert Turner Pastor, Vernon Chapel A.M.E. Church Tulsa, OK Dr. Jim Winkler President and General Secretary, National Council of Churches USA Washington, DC Learn more by visiting http://sdpconference.info20 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference
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VOTE and become a VOTER's Advocate: Make this election a RESTORE HOPE and JUSTICE campaignThis nation is in peril. We are a divided nation. We must come together to save the integrity of our constitution. We have lost ground and dignity in the past four years due to unimaginable corruption and lack of leadership. We must pause the hate and systematic injustices. We must press forward to a nation of integrity that welcomes racial, religious, and LGBT equality. We must stop the tendency to go back 100 years and instead adopt policies that will honor science, save the integrity of the vote and bring together a divided nation for the sake of our children and their children's children. This moment is bigger than US. This is a deciding moment in the history of this nation. Will we stand up against white supremacy's threat to rear its ugly head? Will we stand for women's hard earned rights? Will we push back on foreign governments' attempts to control the White House? Will we honor those who protect our borders and have lost their lives for this country? Who will speak for the homeless? We are a better people when we vote our values that protect human rights, rather than destroy human rights. When it's all said and done which side will you choose to stand on? Will you be on the side of justice, freedom, and people's rights? Will you choose to vote for Humanity and Freedom, for all children and people regardless of sexual preference, race, creed or other qualifiers? Please join me and others in taking a stand for the right side of Justice by joining me and others who are set on causing as the late Congressman Lewis encouraged us to do... Causing GOOD TROUBLE. Vote your conscience on November 3rd and bring others along to save this nation from itself.10 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Winona Hauge
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We Declare Judgment on the Sins of the SenateWoe unto those who legislate evil and rob the poor of their rights -Isaiah 10 We declare that no matter how much power humanity thinks it has, there is still the power of the people and the power of the moral arc of the universe. There is still the power of the Creator we still believe in. Any earthly power that tries to undermine these inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is wrong and must be altered. That’s not an idea we came up with. That’s what the Founders of this nation wrote down on paper. We know that to undermine the establishment of justice, the provision for the common defense, promoting the general welfare, ensuring domestic tranquility, and guaranteeing equal protection under the law is a violation of our deepest constitutional values and the very moral values of God. When we see this current Senate, under the leadership of Senate Leader McConnell, refuse to pass a stimulus bill because they care more about corporate greed and tax cuts for the wealthy than they do for people who are sick, dying, suffering economically and hurting, we declare that it is sin. When we see the attempt to steal Supreme Court seats over against their own assertion that it is wrong to do so after an election has already begun, that is sin. When we see the refusal to reform policing to protect and serve, that is sin. When we see the refusal to properly address the death and destruction of the coronavirus and to be more interested in denying healthcare than keeping people alive, that is sin. When we see attempts to throw doubt and sow discord, division, and deceit into the general election, that is sin. Before God and the values of our constitution, we’ve come today to render this judgment. We have come to remind you that in the economy of God, a nation is judged by how she cares for the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the immigrant, the sick, and the least of these. We have come to warn the Senate that your arms are too short to box with God. We have come to warn you that your unholy alliance with lies and manipulation and lust for power and racism will be your undoing and will bring harm to the nation. But we also say that you have the opportunity NOW to change. If you do not change, then as Frederick Douglass said in 1857, just maybe your actions, your attitude, and your arrogance is just one final link in the chain of events preparatory to the downfall of your entire system of scheming against the people and against the values of God. We declare that what you are doing will not deter people, but rather will embolden us to fight for the very things you seek to take away. The healthcare you seek to destroy will result in universal healthcare. The vote you try to suppress will result in a massive voter turnout and fresh laws to protect the right to vote. The justice you seek to withhold from the people will lead to a fierce commitment to restructure our judicial system and our courts towards the calls of justice. What you mean for evil shall work for good if you continue. The dye has been cast and judgment will be rendered and ultimately your trickery, your manipulations will fail! We are here as people of faith! We are here as people of love! We are here as people of peace! We are here as people of justice! We are here as people of hope! We are here as people of truth! We are here as people of collective power! We speak out against stealing a Supreme Court seat We speak out against refusing just stimulus We speak out against the sins of stopping police reform We speak out against the sins of stealing healthcare We speak out against the sins of stifling living wages We speak out against the sins of separating families We speak out against the sins of injustice! We cry out as the souls who have died without justice, Breonna Taylor. We cry out as the souls who have died fighting for justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. We cry out as the 205,000 souls who have died because of the mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic, Our Family. Where is their justice? It’s rising up! Justice is rising up in the voices of 140 million poor and low-income people in this nation Justice is rising up in our vote Justice is rising up in the vision of life we have for our future We rise as people of justice We rise as people of truth We rise as people of faith We will continue to rise up!1,215 of 2,000 SignaturesCreated by Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival
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Statement by Faith Leaders on the U.S. State Department’s Commission on Unalienable RightsThe Commission’s director recently scoffed at such concerns, characterizing the Commission’s report as nothing more than “reflections on the nation’s founding principles.” And we know from Secretary Pompeo’s repeated comments, including at Thursday’s public presentation of the report, that he will seek to use the Commission’s report to justify marginalizing certain rights, thus diminishing human rights advocacy and stifling demands for accountability for those whose rights have been violated. Such politicization of human rights—and of freedom of religion in particular—is dangerous, particularly now when the forces of authoritarianism are on the rise globally. We urge members of the Commission to consider the risks of complicity in such an effort and use this comment period to ensure that the final version of the Commission’s report firmly upholds the universality and indivisibility of rights as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This will put the United States in the best position to stand up for religious freedom around the world. For our part, we will steadfastly defend the freedom of all people to follow their faith, while standing firm against the use of religion to suppress human rights for the most vulnerable people. Sincerely,* Rev. Amanda Hambrick Ashcraft, Executive Minister for Justice, Education & Movement Building, Middle Collegiate Church Robert Bank, President and CEO of American Jewish World Service Susan Barnett, Founder, Faiths for Safe Water Rabbi Sharon Brous, Founder and Senior Rabbi, IKAR-LA Rev. Jennifer Butler, CEO, Faith in Public Life Shaun Casey, Georgetown University Sister Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director, NETWORK; Leader of Nuns on the Bus Shane Claiborne, Co-Founder, Red Letter Christians Miguel H. Diaz, PhD, Ambassador to the Holy See, Ret., Loyola University Chicago Marianne Duddy-Burke, Executive Director, DignityUSA Rev. Nathan Empsall, Faithful America Dr. Sharon Groves, Vice President for Public Engagement, Auburn Seminary Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, Fellow, Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative, Center for American Progress Prof. Dr. Hille Haker, Richard McCormick Endowed Chair of Ethics, Loyola University Chicago Lisa Sharon Harper, Founder and President, Freedom Road, LLC Rev. Dr. Katharine Henderson, President, Auburn Seminary Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Executive Director, T'ruah Valarie Kaur, the Revolutionary Love Project Rev. Jacqueline J. Lewis, PhD, Senior Minister, Middle Collegiate Church Rev. Michael-Ray Mathews, Deputy Director & Director of Clergy Organizing, Faith in Action Dr. Keisha E. McKenzie, Auburn Seminary, New York, NY Rev. Brian D. McLaren, Author Rabbi Jack Moline, Interfaith Alliance Elaina Ramsey, Interim Executive Director, Red Letter Christians Bishop Gene Robinson, The Episcopal Church Simran Jeet Singh, Visiting Professor, Union Theological Seminary Maggie Siddiqi, Director, Faith and Progressive Policy Initiative, Center for American Progress Michael A. Vazquez, MTS, Religion & Faith Director, Human Rights Campaign Rev. angel Kyodo williams, Transformative Change Ahmed Younis, JD PhD, Former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Deputy Special Envoy (GEC), Department of State Rev. Katey Zeh, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice3 of 100 SignaturesCreated by Groundswell Movement