<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><span></span></div><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><div>This letter and its signatories make me proud to call Moscow (the one in Idaho) my adopted home.</div><div><br></div><div>Courtesy of today's (February 3, 2017) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.</div><div><br></div><div>--------------------------------</div><div><h1 itemprop="headline" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 42px; margin: 0px 100px 0px 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.1; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Letter: In support of Muslim neighbors</h1></div><div> </div><div><div>We, the undersigned faith leaders from Moscow and Pullman, wish to publicly proclaim our love and support for our Muslim neighbors. We find the "Muslim Ban" imposed by President Donald Trump to be unjust, unwarranted and possibly unconstitutional. The presence of our Muslim brothers and sisters profoundly enriches our universities, our communities and our lives. They are students, teachers, friends and co-workers, parents and children, grandparents, aunts and uncles and we value their contributions to our towns. Their message has consistently been one of friendship and solidarity, and we offer our friendship and solidarity in return.</div><div><br></div><div>We commit to allying with the Islamic community in the face of this discriminatory policy and any others that may be forthcoming. Should there be a "Muslim Registry," we will all be adding our names. Freedom of religion is enshrined in our Constitution, and is part of what makes our nation great. We have seen where religious discrimination leads; the fact that the travel ban was announced on Holocaust Remembrance Day sent a chilling reminder.</div><div><br></div><div>As always, we encourage all people of good will to stand against hate, and to step in to prevent acts of Islamophobia. We support peace through understanding. We support community through listening, learning and serving together in mutual respect. May we celebrate our common humanity rather than giving in to the forces that would divide us.</div><div><br></div><div><b>The Rev. Elizabeth Stevens</b></div><div>Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse</div><div><br></div><div><b>The Rev. Mary Beth Rivetti</b></div><div>Retired, Episcopal Diocese of Spokane</div><div><br></div><div><b>Myron Schreck</b></div><div>Member, Moscow Interfaith Association</div><div>and Jewish Community of the Palouse</div><div><br></div><div><b>The Rev. Linda M. Young</b></div><div>St. James Episcopal Church</div><div><br></div><div><b>The Rev. Robin Biffle</b></div><div>St. Mark's Episcopal Church</div><div><br></div><div><b>The Rev. Steve VanKuiken</b></div><div>Community Congregational United Church of Christ</div><div><br></div><div><b>The Rev. Jodie Tooley</b></div><div>United Church of Moscow</div><div><br></div><div><b>Joann Muneta</b></div><div>Member, Moscow Interfaith Association</div><div>and Jewish Community of the Palouse</div><div><br></div><div><b>Sayed Daoud</b></div><div>Pullman Islamic Center</div><div><br></div><div><b>The Rev. Debbie Sperry</b></div><div>Moscow First United Methodist Church</div><div><br></div><div><b>Karla Neumann Smiley</b></div><div>Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Idaho</div><div><br></div><div><b>Pastor Norman Fowler</b></div><div>First Presbyterian Church</div><div><br></div><div><b>Kerrie May</b></div><div>Bahá'ís of Moscow</div><div><br></div></div><div>--------------------------------</div><div><br></div><div><b>"Imagine" </b>by John Lennon</div><div><a href="http://www.TomandRodna.com/Songs/John_Lennon/Imagine.mp3">http://www.TomandRodna.com/Songs/John_Lennon/Imagine.mp3</a></div><div><br><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya at the rally on Saturday, Moscow, because . . .</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow Cares" </span></div><div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom Hansen</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow, Idaho</span></div></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"A stranger is merely a friend you don't know</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">." (author unknown)</span></div></div></div></div></body></html>