A Pledge to Stand Together
Upholding the ideals of the “Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom” enacted into law by the Virginia General Assembly in 1786…
We stand together.
In response to recent divisive and hurtful rhetoric that targets members of our community…
We stand together.
With our Muslim friends, neighbors, and colleagues who have recently faced an increase in bigoted words and actions…
We stand together.
With the immigrants and refugees who today call this country home…
We stand together.
Celebrating the diversity of religions and belief systems as a source of strength…
We stand together.
Recognizing that we are all at risk when one group is unjustly targeted…
We stand together.
In the face of efforts to promote fear of people considered to be “the other”…
We stand together.
Sharing a commitment to understanding, peace, and justice…
We stand together.
Acknowledging that these words must be backed up by inclusive actions…
We stand together.
Today and in the future, we pledge that in the Hampton Roads region and beyond…
We stand together.
Thank you to the following individuals and organizations for signing on to this pledge:
Signatories in The Virginian-Pilot Advertisement
- Academy Road Languages
- Adam Law Creative
- Sakinah Ali
- Marisa Alqasim
- George Amberman
- Fred Archer
- Mark S. Askew, Sr.
- Beatriz Amberman, Vice Chair, Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations
- Sheri Bailey, JuneteenthVA.org
- James R. Bergdoll
- Michael Berlucchi, President, Hampton Roads Pride
- Ivy M. Best
- Caroline Black
- Dr. Melvin T. Blackwell
- Vivian Blaize
- Joell Bohle
- Melvin Bohle
- The Rev. Aaron Brittain
- Pam Bro & Living Waters Sanctuary, Va. Beach
- Joe and Diane Burke
- The Reverend Albert G. Butzer, III, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Virginia Beach
- Kathleen Carlson
- Carolyn Caywood
- The Center for the Study of Religious Freedom at Virginia Wesleyan College
- Steve Clayton
- Veronica Coleman
- Mary Ann Collins
- The Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater
- Gloria M. Connor
- Joe Cook
- Crescent Community Center, Virginia Beach
- James V. Culpepper
- Daughters of Wisdom, USA Province
- Andrew Davies
- Chantal Dejou
- Lauri Dlubala-Madison
- Danny Epperson
- America Fajardo-Wyatt
- Imam Vernon M. Fareed, Masjid William Salaam, Norfolk
- Les Ferguson
- Joseph Filipowski
- Bobbie Fisher
- Kay Flohre
- Cantor Wendi Fried, Congregation Beth El, Norfolk
- Porsche Funches
- Gurcharan Singh Gill
- Hampton Roads Center for Spiritual Living, a Science of Mind Community
- Hampton Roads Pride
- Connie Hannah
- James Bertram Haugh, Ph.D.
- Health & Awareness, Inc.
- The Rev. Scott Hennessy
- Nancy Hess
- Hispanic Community Dialogue Organization
- Dorothy M. Holtz
- Paula J. Hughes
- Geraldine K. Hunt
- Robert Roman and Claus Ihlemann
- Syed Ismail
- Christine Faszewski Irby
- T. Floyd Irby, Jr.
- Rajeeb Islam
- Rabbi Ellen Jaffe-Gill
- Ann Gray, DW Coordinator of JPIC -USA
- The Rev. Caroline Jinkins, First Presbyterian Church, Virginia Beach
- Jeremy M. Jinkins
- Malik Jordan
- Loretta D. Kahn
- Imam Rachid Khould
- Catherine Ware Kilduff
- Rabbi Marc Kraus
- Heidi A. Kulberg
- Love and Laughter Disciple Ministries
- Deirdre A. Love
- Frederick A. Lubich
- Rachelle Luna
- Roberto Luna
- Praveen Malali
- Sister Christina Grace Malonzo, DW, Sowers of Justice
- Robin A. Mancoll
- Rabbi Rosalin Mandelberg
- Frank Paul Marcucci III
- Al Markowitz
- Dr. Lilton J. Marks Sr., Pastor Fellowship United Church of Christ, Chesapeake
- Edmond Marroni
- Sister Margaret McCabe, DW
- Fred McCall, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
- Tim and Renee McCarthy
- Judy McDowell
- Patricia A. McNeil
- Paul McNeil
- Darletha Mercer-McKenzie
- Kay Meyer
- Sara “Sally” Miller
- Mosque and Islamic Center of Hampton Roads
- Penny Plummer Moulis
- Multicultural Alliance of Virginia
- Muslim Community of Tidewater, Norfolk, VA
- Marie-Luise Nazar
- Barbara Older
- Father Jim Parke
- PFLAG Norfolk / South Hampton Roads Chapter
- Stephanie Ratcliffe
- William C. Rice Chairman, Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission
- Norma Raquel Rivera
- Frances Roehm
- Gregory Ryan
- Theresa Schaefer Ryan
- AJ Samadi
- Lyle D. Sanders
- Judy Schorr
- Barbara Sears
- Susan M. Shaw
- Peggy Snead
- Curtis V. Spear III
- Steve Stanley
- Teresa Stanley
- Stephanie Stringer
- Roy Stokes, Justice & Witness, United Church of Christ
- Marjorie G. Sullivan
- C W Taylor
- Amy Tschai
- Ann Turner
- TWP-The Youth Movement
- Anita Ward
- Anita Zinkl Unger
- United Jewish Federation of Tidewater
- Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities
- Virginia Council of Churches
- Virginia Organizing
- Voices of Faith Interfaith Dialogue
- Neil P. Walsh, Captain, USN (ret.)
- Vaundra R. Walters
- Brother Charles M. Warthen, C.F.X.
- Ofelia Wattley
- Gwynne Wells
- Carrie Kane Weston
- Fred Weston
- Joseph Wetherbee, Jr.
- Sarah E. Whitley and Family
- The Rev. Mark D. Wilkinson
- Clyde Wolfe-Borders
- Joseph Wolfe-Borders
- Rabbi Israel Zoberman