Dear Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Baltimore Yearly Meeting, New England Yearly Meeting, Adelphi Friends Meeting & Richmond Friends Meeting,
We are from St. John’s Quaker Friends Worship Group, a meeting in Newfoundland & Labrador that was formed in the late 1970’s. Some of our members are from the United States, many of us have family and other ties there, and our convener, Liz Ohle, is a member of Mount Toby Monthly Meeting, which is part of New England Yearly Meeting.
We are paying attention to the actions of the new administration, with concern and empathy. We are aware of your lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, in response to the new administration’s decision to change the policy banning ICE agents from raiding places of worship. We agree with you that being able to attend services in safety and peace – without the threat of ICE operations – is a crucial element of religious liberty.
At a time when it can be hard to know what to do, we applaud and are inspired by your intelligent action. We stand and sit in solidarity with you, we hold you in our silence, and we wish you success in your lawsuit and peace in your meetings and lives.
In friendship, in the light,
St. John’s Worship Group
