<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><span></span></div><div><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">Courtesy of today’s (July 7, 2018) <i>Moscow-Pullman Daily News.</i><div><br></div><div>———————————————</div><div><br></div><div><div><h1 itemprop="headline" class="headline" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 42px; margin: 0px 100px 0px 0px; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.1; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Letter: Stand with Muslim neighbors</span></h1></div><div><br></div><div>With the recent Supreme Court decision upholding the policy limiting travel to the U.S. from largely Muslim countries, 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" to be unjust, unwarranted and unconscionable. It also sets a dangerous precedent, opening the door to further exclusion and discrimination.</div><div><br></div><div>Here on the Palouse, 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. As always, we encourage all people of good will to stand against hate, and to step in to prevent acts of Islamophobia.</div><div><br></div><div>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>Rev. Elizabeth Stevens, UU Church of the Palouse</div><div>Rev. Debbie Sperry, Moscow First United Methodist Church</div><div>Rev. A. Stephen van Kuiken, Community Congregational United Church of Christ</div><div>Rev. Linda Young, St. James Episcopal Church</div><div>Rev. Norman Fowler, First Presbyterian Church, Moscow</div><div>Annie Reneau, Bahá'í community of Pullman</div><div>Larry Fox, Pullman Interfaith Leadership Group</div><div>Rev. Robin Biffle, St. Mark's Episcopal Church</div><div>Karla Neumann Smiley, Lutheran Campus Ministry at the UI</div><div>Mohammed Islam, Islamic Community of the Palouse</div><div>Marc Levin, President, Jewish Community of the Palouse</div><div>Rev. Jodie Tooley, United Church of Moscow</div><div>Rev. Shane Moore, Simpson United Methodist Church</div><div>Pat Rathmann, UU Church of the Palouse</div><div>Liz Siler, St. James Episcopal Church</div></div><div><br></div><div>———————————————</div><div><br></div><div>As Michael Jackson, so appropriately, suggested . . .</div><div><br></div><div><b><i>“We are the World”</i></b></div><div><a href="https://youtu.be/hYJKBnGZnMA">https://youtu.be/hYJKBnGZnMA</a><br><br><div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya 'round town, 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> </div><div> “There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven't yet met.” - William Butler Yeats</div></div></div></div></div><div><br></div></body></html>