New York - Nearly 25,000 people have joined the “Radical Love Letter” campaign and signed a letter of support dedicated to Muslim Americans in the United States.
The touching letter promises the Muslim community a “circle of protection” to shield them from the alarming acts of hatred and bigotry occurring across the country, according to the Huffington Post.
“America is not America without Muslims. As people of faith and moral conscience, we promise to defend our Muslim brothers and sisters from attack, to speak up when they are maligned, and to support them with our voices, our actions, and our bodies,” the letter reads.
Out of the nearly 25,000 signatures, 7,000 were clergy members from different faiths and religious establishments in the U.S.
The “Radical Love Letter” was created by the U.S. Presbyterian Church affiliated with the Auburn Seminary. It was hand-delivered on Christmas Eve to Muslim leaders at the Muslim Community Network in New York City, the same source noted.
"God is not Muslim, God is not Christian, God is not Jewish; God is love. Love compels us to stand with our Muslim family, to have their backs,” Rev. Jacqui Lewis, Senior Minister of New York's Middle Collegiate Church said when she delivered the letter.
“Today, they are coming for Muslim Americans. And when they come for any member of our community, they come for all of us,” the letter read.
“This is a singular moment in time, when good people of every faith join their voices in one freedom song: We will not stand by while our Muslim brothers and sisters -- our policewomen, doctors, teachers and neighbors -- are targeted with hatred because of the violent actions of a few”, Rev. Lewis continued.
The letter denounced the anti-Muslim rhetoric of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
“As we watch the rising tide of anti-Muslim sentiment in our nation, as we listen to preposterous hate speech and rhetoric from political candidates – particularly Mr. Trump – our hearts are cracked wide open,” the “Radical Love letter” expressed.
According to the same source, the delivery of the letter was done on purpose to mark the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve and Muslim celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad, both falling on the same day this year.
“This is confirmation that we are not alone in the struggle to reclaim our country, to bring it back to the country that it has always been -- loving and warm -- and that the Statue of Liberty stands out there to welcome all," Debbie Almontaser, President of the Muslim Community Network said when she received the letter.
“I want to thank you very much on behalf of the American Muslim community, who will see this as a gesture of love and respect and admiration,” she added.
The letter has moved the hearts of thousands of Americans who have added their name to show their support, unity, love and tolerance to the Muslim American community.
“We love you, and we pledge to show our love in every corner of our lives. May we walk hand in hand into a future where racism, hate, and violence are relics of the past, where differences are celebrated, and our children inherit our joy,” the letter concluded.
The “Radical Love Letter” will be also sent to Muslim-strong cities in the U.S., including, Orlando, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Denver, etc.
The letter is as follows:
TO: OUR MUSLIM BROTHERS AND SISTERS
America is not America without Muslims. As people of faith and moral conscience, we promise to defend our Muslim brothers and sisters from attack, to speak up when they are maligned, and to support them with our voices, our actions, and our bodies.
Why is this important?
In the famous words of German anti-Nazi Lutheran pastor and theologian Martin Niemoller:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
Today, they are coming for Muslim Americans. And when they come for any member of our community, they come for all of us.
As we watch the rising tide of anti-Muslim sentiment in our nation, as we listen to preposterous hate speech and rhetoric from political candidates -- particularly Mr. Trump -- our hearts are cracked wide open.
Even more alarming than the rantings of a single politician are the thousands cheering on bigotry.
People are afraid and concerned for their safety. However, responding to fear with hatred diminishes us all - both in spirit and safety. We must not allow fear to undermine the values that stand at the very core of who we are as faith leaders and Americans.
Every time there is a surge in anti-Muslim speech, there is a corresponding spike in acts of hate and acts of violence against Americans who are Muslim, Sikh, Arab, and South Asian.
You are our neighbors and our doctors, our local merchants and our school board presidents. We know you as restaurant owners and soccer coaches, as policewomen and public officials. We know you as mothers and fathers and caregivers, and as allies and colleagues in movements for justice. You are us.
We know you as our brothers and our sisters. America is not America without you.
We are speaking out, and we have your back, friends. We commit to building a circle of protection around you; we are standing with you.
We love you, and we pledge to show our love in every corner of our lives. May we walk hand in hand into a future where racism, hate, and violence are relics of the past, where differences are celebrated, and our children inherit our joy.
(We stand by you.) (We support you.)
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