Discerning My Role and Response To What is Happening in Minneapolis

On Sunday, I shared at the end of our Meeting for Worship that I had received a call to join fellow clergy and faith leaders this week in Minneapolis for a March that echoes the call on March 8, 1965, in Selma, Alabama. I asked you all to hold those of us in the Light who were discerning that decision. I have spent the last 48 hours wrestling with the call and listening intently to what my fellow F/friends, pastors, family, and those I know on the ground in Minneapolis are saying.  

I, as many of my fellow Quaker ministers and leaders, see this moment as a crisis of our constitution, federal overreach, militarized enforcement, and the erosion of our civil liberties. I believe it is a crisis of our democracy and morals, as well as a failure of the faith communities in our country to live into the vision of the Beloved Community in which Quakers strive to create.

I know not everyone will agree with me (nor do I ask you to agree with me), but as a Quaker and as a minister I am deeply convicted that in this moment I must join our Quaker ancestors in continuing to commit myself to justice, dignity, integrity, peace, compassion, right relationships, and collective care in this nation. Please note, I do not believe this is a crisis confined to one city. It is a crisis all over the land, born of our nation’s original sins: stolen land, slavery, genocide, and the ongoing violence required to sustain them - all sins which Quakers have spoken out against throughout our history.  

On Monday, as I joined my fellow clergy and faith leaders in Shalom Zone for the Celebration of the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, I heard clearly that some of us will be called to join the March in Minneapolis, while many more of us will be called to speak up,  act, and educate our neighbors, fellow F/friends, and communities in the places we live.  I feel at this time, I am called to stay, to speak up, to act, to educate, and to organize with you, ways we may respond to these atrocities in a Quaker manner.  

Also, helping me realize I needed to stay was hearing from numerous people on the ground in Minneapolis. They were clear that what is being reported on the news, is much different than what is happening in their neighborhoods and communities. I have heard from fellow Quakers, pastors, and faith leaders, all saying that Minneapolis is NOT safe and that many people have been taken (including US citizens, family members, protesters, and members of local churches). I have also been informed that an anti-immigrant rally is planned that may cause more violence this coming weekend.  

One of my campus ministry friends in Minneapolis shared some of these realities, 

“A 17yo citizen was abducted from his job at Target as he yelled, “I’m a citizen! My passport is in my pocket!” He was later dumped at a Wal-Mart 8 miles away, bleeding, crying, and disoriented.

A woman in West St. Paul was abducted taking her trash out, despite pleading with agents that she has a passport. Her six-year-old daughter was left behind when they took her.

A white man pulled into a gas station near my home and turned on his camera from within his car. ICE agents broke the window, pulled him out, beat him unconscious, and kidnapped him…

A street in the Midway neighborhood (south of mine a few miles) was cordoned off Sunday while ICE agents went door to door WITH NO WARRANTS, guns drawn, attempting to abduct people from private property (4th Amendment, anybody?).

Multiple restaurants and other businesses are closed today, with signs indicating they fear for the safety of their employees. A friend spoke to the manager of a beloved neighborhood restaurant; she said, “Our employees are citizens, but they know that doesn’t matter anymore.”

Many schools are reporting 1/3 or more students are absent. There are multiple reports of ICE lurking at bus stops and parking just past official school property (in addition to the well-documented gassing of students and abduction of staff from the parking lot of Roosevelt High School).

An urgent call went out for a midwife to help a woman in labor who was afraid to leave her home because ICE agents were visible outside.

There are more than twice the number of ICE agents in the Twin Cities than there are cops in the metro area.

This is just a small sampling of what has happened here.” 

As a fellow minister in your midst, I plead with you to loudly object to these atrocities in a Quakerly manner. Please don’t pretend this isn’t happening. And if you’ve been an ICE apologist, I challenge you to have the courage to change your mind. Call your representatives, go to their offices. If it can happen in Minneapolis, it can happen in Indianapolis, too.  

I ask you to join me in reflecting on the following queries in our WYM Faith & Practice,

• Does your attitude toward people of other races indicate your belief in their right to equal opportunity? 

• Do you believe in the spiritual capacity of people of all races and do you recognize their equality in the sight of God? 

• Are you aware of your responsibility as a Christian to help in the elimination of racial discrimination and prejudice?

As well, reflect with me on this statement from Faith & Practice, 

The mere enactment of good laws does not in itself constitute reform; just and fair administration is also necessary. The constant aim should be to bring about such a spiritual transformation of all persons concerned that outward laws will be superseded by “the more excellent way.”

I pray here in Indianapolis we will seek “the more excellent way,” TOGETHER , and I am committing to doing that as your pastor!