Beacon Supports Interreligious Statement of Solidarity with the Muslim Community of Minnesota
Lee Blons, CEO / President of Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, joins with the signatories listed below in the following statement initiated by the Minnesota Multifaith Network.
Interreligious Statement of Solidarity with the Muslim Community of Minnesota
As members of Minnesota’s diverse religious communities, we stand together in strong condemnation of the recent attack on the Muslim Al Maghfirah (MAG-FIRAH) Cemetery in Castle Rock Township (see https://fb.watch/8TRU5PrVy-)
This is not the first incident of such attacks. We join our voices to speak against the desecration of a cemetery of our Muslim sisters and brothers in Minnesota. These threats of violence to a sacred place of burial are deplorable. Such threats are intended to arouse fear and to violate religious feelings. We refuse to be intimidated and to succumb to fear. We stand side-by-side with the Muslim community in courageous resistance to such unacceptable and shameful acts.
We are committed to the ongoing work of building inclusive communities in Minnesota where members of all religious traditions feel safe and supported in their places of worship, and in public spaces, to affirm their religious identities and to practice their faiths without fear. Our freedom to profess and practice our faiths without fear is fundamental to our human rights. Threats and acts of violence against any faith are a threat to us all. We stand in solidarity with, and extend our support to, our Muslim neighbors in resisting intimidation and fear.
Co-signed by:
Vishal Agarwal, Member of Trustee Executive Council, Hindu Society of Minnesota
Pooja Bastodkar, President of Hindu Society of Minnesota
Lee Burdge, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Becca Buse, Interfaith Leader, Interfaith Youth Core Alumni
Zan Christ, Multifaith Practitioner and Public Speaker
Rabbi Norman M. Cohen, Founding Rabbi Emeritus, Bet Shalom Congregation
Rev. Richard H. Coleman, Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church
Rev. Ben Connelly, Minnesota Zen Meditation Center
Genjo Conway, Mirror Lake Temple
Charles Curry, Evangelist, Community of Christ
Curtiss DeYoung, Minnesota Council of Churches
Tom Duke, Lutheran pastor (ret.)
John Emery, Executive Director, Islamic Resource Group
Ram Gada, Founding Member and Past President of the Jain Center of Minnesota
Hans Gustafson, Ph.D., Director, Jay Phillips Center for Interreligious Studies, University of St. Thomas
Rev. K.P. Hong, Minister at Unity Church-Unitarian
Patrice Clark Koelsch, Buddhist Chaplain, Common Ground Community Member
Bill Konrardy, Anti-racist, United Methodist Church
Rev. John Matthews, ELCA Clergy and Adjunct Instructor, Augsburg University, Minneapolis
Shehla Mushtaq, Interfaith Circle
Julia Nerbonne, Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light
Joy Persall, Ojibwe Metis
Mary Pickard, Unitarian Universalist
Anantanand Rambachan, Emeritus Professor of Religion, Saint Olaf College
Bradley E. Schmeling, Senior Pastor, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, St. Paul
Zafar Siddiqui, Board Chair, Al-Amal School
Rabbi Adam Stock Spilker, Mount Zion Temple, St. Paul
Prabhat Tekriwal, Hindu Leader
Rev. Dr. Trish Sullivan Vanni, Pastoral Director, Charis Ecumenical Catholic Community, Eden Prairie
