As faith leaders in Santa Clara County, we were appalled by news of the attack on a member of one of our faith communities simply because the attackers objected to this man's religious affiliation. As reported in "Sunnyvale: Man attacked for being Muslim" (B2, June 15), the attackers indicated both anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim prejudice before striking the man in the face on a busy street in broad daylight. That this hate crime is the third possible anti-Muslim crime this year — while last year no such acts were reported — makes a committed community response all the more urgent.
Along with our colleagues who minister to diverse faith communities across this valley, we are united by principles of love, justice and respect for all people. Our country's history includes far too many examples of violence inflicted on people of faith by fearful or hate-filled people. Catholics, Jews, Buddhists, Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims have all suffered such attacks. It is time for such violence to end.
As individuals and with our congregations, we are responding to this most recent hate crime with our renewed commitment to building a community where all are welcome and no one has to live in fear. We will work together as one body to help our own communities overcome prejudice.
We also commit to working with the wider community, particularly law enforcement and the media. We call upon the Sunnyvale police to put all its efforts into finding the
Too often, such religious intolerance is mixed in with suspicion of immigrants. We call to task all voices of intolerance that stir hatred in the hearts of the people. We will not remain silent.
Our engagement in community organizing through PACT (People Acting in Community Together) has taught us that when we take a stand and work together, profound changes for the good can happen. Thus, we offer our solemn pledge to support our sisters and brothers in the Muslim and other minority communities, to hear their stories of struggle and pain and to work with them to undo misunderstanding and prevent violence.
Joining us in these commitments are faith leaders from the Catholic, Jewish, Protestant and Unitarian Universalist communities.
We urge all members of our wider community to join us in this work. In words and deeds, let us say "no" to hatred and fear and "yes" to a diverse community built on love, compassion, understanding and inclusion.
FATHER JON PEDIGO and the REV. NANCY PALMER JONES are leaders with People Acting In Community Together (PACT). They wrote this article for this newspaper.
