FAITH LEADERS BUILDING COMMUNITY, STANDING TOGETHER
In the wake of our Faith Leaders Statement and Proposed Proclamation Against Hate, Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice has convened a coalition of clergy and people of faith to build an interfaith movement around our state. The goal is to foster trust, build relationships, and create a strong interfaith community that will support and assist each other in the challenging times ahead. We are calling this movement Faith Leaders Building Community, Standing Together.
This is a critical moment in our nation’s history. Many of our communities are experiencing a palpable fear of what the present political climate will mean for them. But this is also a time of opportunity. People are galvanized to action as never before. Now, more than ever, we must join together to fight against hate, to resist attacks on our communities, and to stand united in trust and love.
Join Faith Leaders Building Community, Standing Together on Facebook to join in the conversation.
For Clergy and Faith Leaders: Join our interfaith leadership councils - Multifaith Coalition of South-Central Wisconsin and Greater Milwaukee Faith Voices for Justice. We come together as faith leaders for mutual support, to learn about each other's faiths, and to act together as a united interfaith leaders to address issues facing our community. To learn more and to join one of these groups, or to create a similar group in your area, contact Rabbi Bonnie Margulis at wifaithvoices4justice@gmail.com.
Let us commit to work together to move Wisconsin Forward!
This is a critical moment in our nation’s history. Many of our communities are experiencing a palpable fear of what the present political climate will mean for them. But this is also a time of opportunity. People are galvanized to action as never before. Now, more than ever, we must join together to fight against hate, to resist attacks on our communities, and to stand united in trust and love.
Join Faith Leaders Building Community, Standing Together on Facebook to join in the conversation.
For Clergy and Faith Leaders: Join our interfaith leadership councils - Multifaith Coalition of South-Central Wisconsin and Greater Milwaukee Faith Voices for Justice. We come together as faith leaders for mutual support, to learn about each other's faiths, and to act together as a united interfaith leaders to address issues facing our community. To learn more and to join one of these groups, or to create a similar group in your area, contact Rabbi Bonnie Margulis at wifaithvoices4justice@gmail.com.
Let us commit to work together to move Wisconsin Forward!
FAITH LEADERS STATEMENT AND PROPOSED PROCLAMATION AGAINST HATE:
Report and Next Steps
Many thanks to those of you who have signed on to our Faith Leaders Statement Against Hate and call for Dane County and Madison elected officials to issue proclamations in support of our diverse religious and ethnic communities. Thus far, 9 organizations, 100 individuals, and one business have signed on. You can find the complete list here. To add your signature, email us here.
We are pleased to report that our Proclamation has been endorsed by Madison Police Chief Michael Koval and Dane County Executive Joseph Parisi issued a proclamation Dec. 2 in response to our call.
Please help us spread this call, combatting hate with love, throughout our state. Below you can find a sample Op-Ed and a sample Letter to the Editor based on the statement and proclamation. Please take these templates and use them to create your own opinion pieces and letters to the editor and send them to your local newspapers and other media outlets. Organize your local clergy and faith communities to sign on with you. Email us and et us know if your op-ed or letter gets printed or covered in your local news!
We are pleased to report that our Proclamation has been endorsed by Madison Police Chief Michael Koval and Dane County Executive Joseph Parisi issued a proclamation Dec. 2 in response to our call.
Please help us spread this call, combatting hate with love, throughout our state. Below you can find a sample Op-Ed and a sample Letter to the Editor based on the statement and proclamation. Please take these templates and use them to create your own opinion pieces and letters to the editor and send them to your local newspapers and other media outlets. Organize your local clergy and faith communities to sign on with you. Email us and et us know if your op-ed or letter gets printed or covered in your local news!
SAMPLE OP-ED (first person if writing on your own behalf, plural if you get others to sign with you. Find out your local papers policy on multiple signatories to a letter or op-ed.)
As clergy/people of faith, we have been deeply distressed by the reported increase of hate crimes in our country, as well as an intensification of racist, homophobic, Islamaphobic, anti-Semitic, and misogynist rhetoric in the public sphere in the wake of the recent election. We believe that, as a nation of immigrants of different faiths, we all share a common understanding that our differences only make us better. It is incumbent upon us as faith leaders and upon our elected representatives to protect our inclusive and diverse community where we may all practice our faith traditions in security and peace.
In the current political climate, minority communities are all feeling under threat. In addition to the Muslim and immigrant communities, the Jewish community and other religious minorities, people of color, and the LGBTQ community are all deeply concerned and anxious for their safety and the protection of their religious and civil rights.
We therefore call upon (insert local governmental bodies) to pass resolutions and take a public stand in affirmation of the values we all cherish, and in opposition to the forces of bigotry and ignorance that would take us backward to a dark and dangerous time. We also ask our county officials, (mayor, county executive, local law enforcement, etc.) to issue an official proclamation in support of the values of inclusion, diversity, and mutual responsibility for the safety of every resident.
We pledge that our faith communities will continue to stand together in solidarity and mutual support to advance these values. We look to all our residents to join together in the spirit of community to stand against hate, racism, and misogyny, and to stand together in mutual respect, support, and love. We face great challenges as a community, but we will face them together, as together we move Forward!
Sample Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
As clergy/people of faith, we call upon our elected officials to take a public stand in support of the values of inclusion, diversity, and mutual responsibility for the safety of every resident. We have been deeply distressed by the intensification of racist, homophobic, Islamaphobic, anti-Semitic, and misogynist rhetoric in the public sphere. We believe that, as a nation of immigrants of different faiths, we all share a common understanding that our differences only make us better. It is incumbent upon us as faith leaders and upon our elected representatives to protect our inclusive and diverse community where we may all practice our faith traditions in security and peace. In the current political climate, minority communities are all feeling under threat. In addition to the Muslim and immigrant communities, the Jewish community and other religious minorities, people of color, and the LGBTQ community are all deeply concerned and anxious for their safety and the protection of their religious and civil rights. It is imperative that we hear from our civic leadership that they will protect all our residents, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, or immigration status. We face great challenges as a community, but we will face them together, as together we move Forward!
As clergy/people of faith, we have been deeply distressed by the reported increase of hate crimes in our country, as well as an intensification of racist, homophobic, Islamaphobic, anti-Semitic, and misogynist rhetoric in the public sphere in the wake of the recent election. We believe that, as a nation of immigrants of different faiths, we all share a common understanding that our differences only make us better. It is incumbent upon us as faith leaders and upon our elected representatives to protect our inclusive and diverse community where we may all practice our faith traditions in security and peace.
In the current political climate, minority communities are all feeling under threat. In addition to the Muslim and immigrant communities, the Jewish community and other religious minorities, people of color, and the LGBTQ community are all deeply concerned and anxious for their safety and the protection of their religious and civil rights.
We therefore call upon (insert local governmental bodies) to pass resolutions and take a public stand in affirmation of the values we all cherish, and in opposition to the forces of bigotry and ignorance that would take us backward to a dark and dangerous time. We also ask our county officials, (mayor, county executive, local law enforcement, etc.) to issue an official proclamation in support of the values of inclusion, diversity, and mutual responsibility for the safety of every resident.
We pledge that our faith communities will continue to stand together in solidarity and mutual support to advance these values. We look to all our residents to join together in the spirit of community to stand against hate, racism, and misogyny, and to stand together in mutual respect, support, and love. We face great challenges as a community, but we will face them together, as together we move Forward!
Sample Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
As clergy/people of faith, we call upon our elected officials to take a public stand in support of the values of inclusion, diversity, and mutual responsibility for the safety of every resident. We have been deeply distressed by the intensification of racist, homophobic, Islamaphobic, anti-Semitic, and misogynist rhetoric in the public sphere. We believe that, as a nation of immigrants of different faiths, we all share a common understanding that our differences only make us better. It is incumbent upon us as faith leaders and upon our elected representatives to protect our inclusive and diverse community where we may all practice our faith traditions in security and peace. In the current political climate, minority communities are all feeling under threat. In addition to the Muslim and immigrant communities, the Jewish community and other religious minorities, people of color, and the LGBTQ community are all deeply concerned and anxious for their safety and the protection of their religious and civil rights. It is imperative that we hear from our civic leadership that they will protect all our residents, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, or immigration status. We face great challenges as a community, but we will face them together, as together we move Forward!
