Call to Action:
Attention Radicals! Attention
Peace Activists! Attention to all who value
acceptance, diversity, and religious freedom for ALL, not just Christians! You are needed to come to the defense of our
communities.
The known hate-group ACT for America is holding a nationwide
day of action on June 10th.
Here in Southern California they will be protesting in San Bernardino
and Oceanside. Along with other White
Nationalists like the Proud Boys and other racists and NeoNazis, they will be
out in force in our communities, preying on vulnerable, marginalized groups, in
an attempt to spread fear and hatred, all in the name of defending us from the
spectre of “Sharia Law.” They are choosing, as their rallying point, the Memorial to the Victims of the December 2nd terrorist attack, an attempt to twist the sympathies of the people. Such exploitation of this tragedy is an insult to the memory of those lost, and to the pain of their loved ones left behind.
This is also a false threat.
Sharia is irrelevant to America, as the Supreme Court is still the law
of the Land, and there is no sign of threat to this. As such, this gathering represents nothing
but a threat to inclusivity and diversity in our communities. We will not tolerate it. They will claim “free speech” as a defense
for their hate, but their methods show no concern for the free speech of
others. This is an attempt to oppress
the free religious expression of Non-Christians, to silence and target
minorities, and it defies the values this nation was founded upon.
This land has always been home to a multitude of peoples,
dating back before the Mayflower, when native tribes worshipped in a multitude
of different ways, and had a panoply of different cultures. When the Pilgrims arrived they were fleeing
Religious persecution. They came seeking
freedom. The Declaration of Independence
was written and dedicated to the proposition that “All men are Created Equal.”
The founders of this nation built it to break free of the Tyranny of monarchy,
and throughout our history, we have sought to fulfill the premise of our
society; freedom, equality, and the pursuit of happiness.
For all our myths of American Exceptionalism, for all our
assertions that this land is the greatest in the world, we have a dark history
of stubborn oppression; but equally do we have a history of fighting against
that oppression. Every generation has
had its struggle against oppression. It
was an American value to seek Abolition, and to bring an end to slavery. It was an American value to give the vote to
women. It was an American value to seek
an end to child labor, and to the horrific working conditions in factories and
mines. It was an American value to fight
for civil rights in the 60s, and for Women’s liberation. It was an American value to seek an end to
discrimination against Gays and Trans people.
It is an American value to seek the freedom of Muslims to worship
according to their first amendment rights, unhindered by a militia of ignorant
bullies.
We do not oppose the March against Sharia because of Islam
or “want Sharia Law.” We do not oppose
them because we feel it is our “job” to protect Muslims. We harbor no illusions that we speak for any
group. We ourselves are not a group or
organization. We are simply a gathering
of concerned residents, who will not sit by while members of our communities
are bullied. We who gather on June 10th
do so because we feel called by personal moral duty, to stand up to hate. History has seen what can happen when good people
are complacent; and do not take action.
We represent no one but ourselves, but we will not stand by while our
communities are threatened. We are
individuals, and we rally together for our own reasons, but we are united by
the fellowship of our common purpose.
We hope you will join us.
