Date: September 2nd 2010

Interfaith Statement for One America

A Call to Action for Deeper Understanding & Mutual Respect

Friends-

Many of us in the interfaith community have been distressed by the increasingly shrill and hostile rhetoric aimed at Muslims in many places around our country. We feel it is essential at this time for people of goodwill to stand up and defend the principles of religious freedom that have enabled us to work together as members of diverse religious communities in the service of the common good.

Attached is a copy of a statement that several local leaders have been working on. We invite you as religious leaders to sign on to this letter, which we will release next week. If you are willing, please send me a message at revdak@interfaithspace.org indicating that you would like to have your name included.

Also, please note two important events coming up next week.  On Wednesday, September 8th, at 11:00 am, there will be a press conference at the First Baptist Church of Palo Alto, 305 N. California Street, Palo Alto. We will be sharing statements of concern and announcing the community gathering to be held on Friday. We invite you or your spokesperson to be present at the press conference.

On Friday, September 10, 5:00 - 6:30 pm, religious communities from around the Valley will gather at the Jim McEntee Plaza at the Santa Clara County office building, 70 W. Hedding, San Jose, to demonstrate our support of religious freedom and to celebrate the relationships we have built with one another. You and your congregation are invited to join us in a show of solidarity as people of faith.

Details of the events will be posted on the Interfaith Space events calendar as they are confirmed: http://www.interfaithspace.org/IS-events.htm

Thank you for all your continuing efforts to build relationships of peace, understanding, and respect among the people of our communities.

Andrew Kille