The Vassalboro Friends Meeting of the Society of Friends (Quakers) has been, like many faith communities, holding prayer and offering support for people who are stressed by the U.S. government’s behaviors toward immigrants and foreign countries.

Our trust in the goodness of God tells us that it is our moral and and spiritual responsibility to adhere to the truth. It is our witness that we are being lied to by our federal government. We testify to the evidence of our own eyes. The violence exhibited by Homeland Security and ICE is unacceptable to us. We recognize our immigration system is bogged down, confusing and not always fair. That truth does not permit us to accept the violent and chaotic actions of our government. Violence in our streets must be rejected by all of us.

Aggression against Venezuela, and threatened against Greenland, and asserting control over a foreign government is not consistent with peace-loving people. This will lead to more violence unless we all insist on a different path. The escalation of violence has moved us beyond prayer. We hope to inspire our friends, neighbors, government and service organizations to seek justice and to build peace.

Quakers are a peace-seeking people and our faith requires us, even when fearful, to stand in witness for peace at home and across the world.

We ask all people act on their faith or values to take all peaceful actions to insist on a return to civility and safety.

Joann Austin
Clerk, Vassalboro Friends Meeting
South China