UU Academics Condemn Violence
By Sofía Betancourt, Rosemary Bray McNatt, Elías Ortega
As Unitarian Universalists who live and serve at the intersections of the academy and our religious communities, our most foundational commitments rest upon values of pluralism, justice, rigorous inquiry and debate, and democratic freedom of expression for all people – including and especially for students, whose movements have so frequently represented the conscience of the nation with courage and moral clarity. In this context, we feel compelled to unequivocally condemn the rapidly escalating violent repression of pro-Palestinian, anti-war student movements on college campuses across the United States and affirm their right to peacefully protest.
In our current national climate, anti-democratic white Christian nationalist ideology is rapidly gaining traction in mainstream political discourse and legislation, as well as threatening the integrity of academic freedom. It is no coincidence that our academic institutions have been a primary target of right wing attacks as they represent one of the most powerful remaining bastions of intellectual freedom and free speech. It has been chilling to witness politicians targeting University presidents in the halls of Congress over the past six months, in parallel with crackdowns on and retaliation against academics and faculty within their own institutions. The silencing of pro-Palestinian student speakers in commencement activities and the past week’s multiple incidences of academic administrations calling upon law enforcement to tear down encampments, arrest mass numbers of students, and crush campus protests is deeply disturbing and anathema to the fundamental values of both academic freedom and our faith.
We acknowledge the heartbreaking realities of antisemitism in our culture, and believe that academic institutions have an obligation to support and protect Jewish students among their student bodies. At the same time, we believe that the disingenuous weaponization of accusations of antisemitism is currently being used to stifle free speech and is contributing to the equally threatening climate of anti-Arabism and islamophobia. Suppressing free speech and protest is not the way to address any of these issues.
As Unitarian Universalist academics, we urge the immediate removal of state and national police forces from campuses across the country; for institutions of higher learning to honor our shared commitments to freedom of speech and peaceful protest for students and academics; and for people of faith and conscience to listen deeply to the prophetic wisdom and courageous leadership of students across the country who are demanding – as they have at so many watershed moments in history – that our nation and its institutions cease their collusion with global violence, oppression, and war.
The judgment of history rarely sides against young people and the solidarity movements they build; we pray that the Academy does not ignore the very history it purports to impart upon its students.
Fellow Unitarian Universalist academics are welcome to add their name to this statement using this online form.
Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt
President, Unitarian Universalist Association
Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt
President, Starr King School for the Ministry
Dr. Elías Ortega
President, Meadville Lombard Theological School
Michael Akseven
UU Ventura
Dr. Takiyah Amin
Director, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Virginia Tech
Rev. Dr. Leonisa Ardizzone
Visiting Assistant Professor, Vassar College
Rev. Dr. Jay Atkinson
Research Scholar, Starr King School for the Ministry
Kyle Belmont
Seminarian, Boston University School of Theology
Rev. Dr. Colin Bossen
Senior Minister and Independent Scholar, First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston
Dr. Karen Bray
Associate Professor of Religion, Philosophy, and Social Change, Wesleyan College
Rev. Dr. Maria Cristina Vlassidis Burgoa
Minister/Adjunct Professor, Starr King School for the Ministry/East Shore Unitarian Church
Dr. Christopher Cameron
Professor of History, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Joan Gregory, MLS
Librarian Emeritus, University of Utah
Dr. Michael Hogue
Professor of Theology, Ethics, and Philosophy of Religion, Meadville Lombard Theological School
Rev. Dr. Andrea Johnson
Community Minister, First Universalist Church
Alex Kapitan
Research scholar, Starr King School for the Ministry
Dr. Robert Kimball
Professor emeritus, University of Louisville
Rev. Tera Landers
Assistant Professor for the Practice of Congregational Life, Starr King School for the Ministry
Rev. Jordinn Nelson Long
PhD Student, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador
Natalie Malter
PhD Candidate, Harvard University
Rev. Kevin Alan Mann
Community Minister, First Unitarian Church of Oakland
Rev. Dr. Stephanie May
Minister, First Church Boston
Dr. Dan McKanan
Emerson Senior Lecturer, Harvard Divinity School
Rev. Juniper Meadows
Minister, 2nd Unitarian Church of Omaha
Dr. Wayne Mellinger
Independent Scholar
Dr Suzanne Miller
Associate Professor Emerita, State University of New York
Dr. Edward Navarre
Professor, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Rev. Dr. Rebecca Ann Parker
President Emeritus, Starr King School for the Ministry
Miss QuianaDenae Perkins
Starr King School for Ministry
Professor Nancy Potter
Emeritus
Barbara Powers
Rev. Dr. Sheri Prud'homme
Assistant Professor of Religion and Education, Starr King School for the Ministry
Rev. Dr. Meg Richardson
Associate Professor, Starr King School for the Ministry
Rev. Darcy Roake
Dr. Denise Robb
Rev. Dr. Adam Robersmith
Adjunct Professor, Meadville Lombard Theological School
Nora Sullivan MDiv, MSW
Rutgers University
Rev. Bonnie Tarwater
Minister, Church for Our Common Home
Rev. Laura Thompson
Minister, Minnesota Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Rev. Karen Van Fossan
Doctoral Student, Pacific School of Religion
Rev. AJ van Tine
Minister, First Unitarian Church of Rochester
Stephanie Vega
Seminarian, Starr King School for Ministry
Rev. Dr. Nathan C. Walker
President,1791 Delegates
Rev. Dr. Michelle Walsh
Retired Lecturer, Boston University
Dr. Tisa Wenger
Professor of American Religious History, Yale Divinity School
Dr. Sharon Welch
Retired, former Provost, Meadville Lombard Theological School