As individuals and as members of the board of the Monmouth Center for World Religions and Ethical Thought, we deplore the killing of three Muslim students in Chapel Hill, North Carolina — Deah Shaddy Barakat, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha. We grieve for their family and friends.
We would like to state publicly our warm embrace and friendship with our Muslim neighbors. We affirm and give thanks for our Muslim neighbors as fellow citizens — and as fellow religious seekers and practitioners — in a nation dedicated to creating a more perfect union through constitutional guarantees, including religious freedom.
We need to create the free and fearless space where relationships with others can be formed and fully experienced, and strangers can become friends.
It is important to us that a clear message of welcome and inclusion is sent to people of all faiths. We stand with our Muslim neighbors in solidarity and will actively counter any disrespect directed at their mosques, homes, businesses or schools.
Now is the time to build bridges with our Muslim neighbors and to cross those bridges with the hand of fellowship extended. We will only strengthen our wonderfully diverse communities in the process.
The Rev. Elizabeth B. Congdon
Dr. Stevi Lischin
MCWRET Co-Coordinators
Lincroft