Coalition To Launch Anti-Hate Campaign

Vowing to take the anti-hate campaign national, religious leaders from the greater Washington, D.C. community, representing a broad cross-section of faith assemblies, gathered on the steps of the historic National City Christian Church in Washington, D.C. for a press conference and public witness that affirmed the need for "civil, inclusive and respectful" conversation about the critical issues facing our nation.  These leaders, representing religious and denominational communities numbering millions of adherents, unanimously called for an end to the rhetoric of division and animosity often heard from opponents of progressive legislation, and articulated the need for a different social discourse in America.

This was initiated in response to the convergence of "Tea Party" activists in downtown Washington, D.C., and to several recent incidents of violent and intolerant speech attributed to political opponents of President Barack Obama and some of his policy initiatives.

The group of leaders, and many who listened to them on the steps of the church, first heard from Imam Mahdi Bray, Executive Director of MAS Freedom, who set the tone for the press conference when he noted that "the American family is facing troubling times, but when a family faces challenges, they must turn to each other, and not on each other."

Other representatives from Protestant, Quaker, Jewish, Catholic, and the Sikh traditions echoed the same sentiments, noting that the harsh rhetoric and uncivil actions of some persons and groups from the political "Right" is not at all reflective of the best traditions in the American interfaith community.

"Launching profane verbal attacks, hurling racial epithets, and even spitting on people with whom you might have political disagreements is simply not acceptable, not only for Christians, but for anyone professing to be a person of faith and conscience" stated Rev. Graylan S. Hagler, Senior Minister of Plymouth Congregational Church in Washington, D.C. and one of the conveners of the assembly.

At the conclusion of the presentations, the interfaith leadership group affirmed its intention to call for, and organize, a major gathering of national religious leaders to address the climate of growing animosity and intolerance from some political sectors in America, and to develop strategies for addressing this disturbing trend.

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