Build Solidarity with our Muslim Neighbors 2016 Action of Immediate Witness

BECAUSE Unitarian Universalist Association’s Principles call us as member congregations to affirm and promote “The inherent worth and dignity of every person” and “The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all”;

WHEREAS, our living tradition draws from many sources, including “Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life” and “Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves”;

WHEREAS, the United States Constitution is founded in part on the freedom of religious belief and practice;

WHEREAS, the histories of Unitarianism, Universalism, and Unitarian Universalism affirm the importance and centrality of freedom of religious belief and practice in this country;

WHEREAS, Muslims and others perceived as Muslims in the United States have faced increased levels of discrimination and hate crimes since 9/11;

WHEREAS, an additional layer of fear, prejudice and xenophobia have arisen following the Paris and San Bernardino terrorist attacks in 2015 and the Belgium and Orlando attacks in 2016; and some politicians have called for a ban on immigration and increased (unnecessary) surveillance for all Muslims following these events;

WHEREAS, the refugee crisis in Syria has become a target of this fear, prejudice and xenophobia;

WHEREAS, Muslim leaders have reached out to Unitarian Universalists asking for our partnership to combat Islamophobia, and congregations have responded with support;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the 2016 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association expresses its love, respect and support for Muslims in our communities and encourages its member congregations to:

  • build bridges of partnership with Muslim neighbors in our local areas;
  • increase understanding of Islam within and beyond our local congregations especially in this political moment;
  • learn more about and act on the realities of religious discrimination and the various refugee crises and offer support to refugees (Syrian and other) within our communities;
  • challenge acts and words of Islamophobia in solidarity and coordination with Muslims;
  • advocate in opposition to Islamophobic bills and actions in our local and national governments, paying particular attention to increased surveillance and anti-immigration efforts; and
  • work in this election cycle to foster greater inclusion of all peoples, regardless of their religious, ethnic, national, or racial identity(ies).