December 23, 2015
Page 5
for
United Peace
C ontinued from f ront
know that there are good people in
Portland taking a stand to uphold
equal rights for all people.”
The united voices for peace
took place against the backdrop
of recent shooting attacks in Par-
is and San Bernardino, Calif. and
their aftermath, both of which
had Islamic extremist groups in-
volved. These attacks have caused
shock waves across the country,
and have been used by some as a
platform for xenophobia and Is-
lamophobic sentiment.
One of the most high-profile
voices condemning Muslim im-
migration and asylum has been
Republican presidential candidate
Donald Trump, who has called for
a “total and complete shutdown”
of Muslim immigration into the
United States.
The local leaders condemned
Trump’s proposal, reminding
many that holding a diverse group
of religious people accountable
for the act of a few was prejudi-
cial and ignorant – and could po-
tentially cause a massive loss of
life for Syrian refugees who stand
to be turned away and returned
to deadly conditions back in the
Middle East.
Ned Rosch, an activist from the
Portland chapter of Jewish Voice
for Peace, told a story of his own
uncle being turned away from
the United States during the Ho-
locaust, only to be killed back in
Europe.
“When we single out, malign,
debase any one or any group in
photo by o livia o livia /t he p ortland o bserver
An interfaith news conference at Portland City Hall to speak out on Islamophobia draws the support of a dozens of local leaders, including
the voice Kayse Jama (at podium), an original founder of Portland’s Center for Intercultural Organizing and a Somalian refugee himself.
our community we are much less
and much uglier,” he said. “I con-
gratulate the Portland City Coun-
cil for doing the right thing.”
Kayse Jama, executive direc-
tor at the Center for Intercultur-
al Organizing in north Portland,
said defending the rights of Mus-
lim Americans and welcoming
refugees was akin to defending
freedom and the right to practice
whatever faith a person wants.
“We affirm the universali-
ty of the anti-racist struggle and
through it, equality in law, respect
and dignity of all human beings,”
Jama said.
On Friday, Voices of a Thou-
sand Angels, an Africa American
Interfaith prayer group, held a
special community wide service
to promote a more peaceful and
just world, regardless of our dif-
ferent beliefs.
E.D. Mondainé, the senior pas-
tor at the Celebration Tabernacle
issued the invitation to the pro-
gram, which included poetry from
local writer S. Renee Mitchell and
a song of prayer from the local In-
digenous community courtesy of
Fish Martinez.
“My team and I have respond-
ed to a national catastrophe across
our great nation and today I sense
an urgent call to respond with com-
munity prayer,” Mondainé said.