We Stand Together

Our diverse religious and social teachings lead us to come together at this time with one voice to condemn bigotry in public discourse.
In particular, we denounce the recent rise in Islamophobia and xenophobia that tear down our fellow humans and build up divisions between people. Recognizing that all of us are at risk when one group is unjustly targeted, we stand with our Muslim friends, neighbors, and colleagues, and all who are unjustly vilified as “the other.” These individuals serve Virginia as citizens, teachers, police officers, medical workers, tradespersons, community leaders, mothers, and fathers. We reach out in this moment with a shared commitment to justice, compassion, love, and peace.
At a time when feelings of fear and vulnerability may be heightened, we call on public figures, private citizens, and media outlets to always speak and act with respect and sensitivity. Religion should never be a wall that separates people from this land, from their neighbors, or from their hopes and dreams.
This Commonwealth proclaimed its commitment to the freedom of religion nearly 230 years ago with the passage of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. We affirm the ideals of this groundbreaking document by working to build more respectful, pluralistic, and inclusive communities.
Today and in the future, we pledge that in the Richmond region and beyond, we stand together.

 

Thank you to the following individuals and organizations for signing on to this pledge:

Signatories in Richmond Times-Dispatch Advertisement

  • Archie Abaire
  • Accotink Unitarian Universalist Church
  • The Reverend Wallace Adams-Riley
  • Ammar Amonette
  • Baptist General Convention of Virginia
  • Capt. and Mrs. Alan H. Barbour
  • Beth Bauman
  • Rev. Dr. Kenneth Beals
  • Rev. Scott Beck
  • Rabbi Dennis Beck-Berman
  • Rabbi Martin P. Beifield Jr.
  • Rev. Max W. Blalock
  • Brian K. Blount
  • Bon Air Presbyterian Church
  • Bon Secours Richmond Health System
  • The Reverent Molly Bosscher
  • Dr. James P. Bowers
  • Rev. Keith D. Boyette
  • The Rev. Jason L. Bryant, OSL
  • The Rev. Susan J. Buchanan
  • Rev. Joseph T. Carson, III
  • Carlton D. Casey
  • Rev. Helen E. Casey-Rutland
  • Shirley Cauffman
  • Rev. Dr. Robert A. Chesnut
  • Bishop Young Jin Cho
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  • Rev. Mandy England Cole
  • Malinda Collier
  • Congregation Beth Ahabah
  • Barbara Lynn Cooper
  • Rabbi Gary S. Creditor
  • Reverend Maxine C. Crenshaw
  • Rev. Susan Cutshaw
  • Rev. Scott E. Davis
  • Rev. Dr. William A. Davis, Jr.
  • Rev. Caitlin Thomas Deyerle
  • Joanna Dietz
  • Paul Dolci
  • Gary W. Duncan
  • Rev. Thomas R. Dunkum
  • Enikő Ferenczy
  • Rabbi Jesse Gallop
  • Lillian Hughes Rodgers Geib
  • Paul Richard Geib, Jr.
  • Rev. Carmen Germino
  • Rev. Douglas D. Gestwick
  • Betty O. Gillis
  • R. Franklin Gillis, Jr.
  • Rev. Rachel Gilmore
  • Ginter Park Presbyterian Church
  • The Rt. Rev. Susan E. Goff
  • Deborah Kate Greenberg
  • Rev. Kendra Grimes
  • Warren R. Harper
  • Rev. Linda Higgins
  • Rev. Dr. David M. Hindman
  • Olivia Hinton
  • Rev. Donna C. Holder
  • The Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith
  • The Rev. Tom Holliday
  • Hope in the Cities/Initiatives of Change
  • Dr. Vernon J. Hurte
  • Interfaith Council of Greater Richmond
  • Islamic Center of Virginia
  • Daniel K. and Dorothy C. Ivey
  • Rev. Dane Jackson
  • Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond
  • Rev. Tom Joyce
  • Rev. Alexander Joyner
  • Rev. Rita Kanten
  • The Rev. Carla Pratt Keyes
  • Dan Kim
  • Rabbi Michael Knopf
  • The Rev. Canon J. Fletcher Lowe, Jr.
  • Kathleen McClendon Lutman
  • Sr. Anne Marie Mack, CBS
  • Bishop James F. Mauney
  • Rev. Anita E. Mays
  • Bob McEachern
  • Rev. Jack Meservey, PhD
  • Terri Morgan
  • The Reverend Melanie Mullen
  • Sandy Natterer
  • Rev. Dr. Michael Lee Nelson
  • Rev. J. David Niemeyer
  • Rev. Bob Parks
  • Parrish Chapel United Methodist Church
  • Rev. Gayle Porias
  • Ida B. Powell
  • Rev. Jeanne Pupke
  • Rev. Lauren Ramseur
  • Carol-Ann Redmon
  • Richmond Peace Education Center
  • Rev. Dr. Jan Rivero
  • The Rev. Gary Robbins
  • Rev. David J. Rochford, III
  • Rabbi Ben Romer
  • Emily DeHaven Rosson
  • SACVI
  • Rev. Scott Sammler-Michael
  • Leigh A. Schiebel
  • The Rev. Dr. Lee B. Sheaffer
  • Audrey D. Smith
  • Rev. Donna B. Smith
  • The Rev. Dr. Jim Somerville
  • Jae Song
  • St. John’s UCC Richmond
  • St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
  • St. Mark’s UMC The Plains VA
  • St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Richmond
  • St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Richmond
  • Brienna Stammer
  • Rev. Laura Stratton
  • The Rev. Hilary Streever
  • Carol E. Sutton-Abaire
  • Rev. ReNe’e R. Teague
  • The Rev. James W. Thornton, Sr.
  • Douglas M.Thorpe
  • Rev. Dr. Larry Tingle
  • Unitarian Universalists Legislative Ministry of Virginia
  • University of Richmond Office of the Chaplaincy
  • Rev. Rob Vaughn
  • Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities
  • Virginia Council of Churches
  • Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
  • Virginia Muslim Coalition for Public Affairs
  • Steven Vornov
  • Anda Lang Webb
  • George Hoff West
  • John L Whitley
  • Molly Wilmarth
  • Rev. Dr. Janet Winslow
  • Rev. Stephen Young

 

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