A Statement from the Council for a Fair and Inclusive Long Island

The Island Now

As leaders of community institutions representing many faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds, we come together united by mutual respect, cherishing diversity, love of country and commitment to equality, justice and concern for everyone.
We have witnessed with horror and fear as our country’s public discourse has descended into angry, divisive darkness, often becoming violent, culminating in the tragic but not surprising violent insurrection in the Halls of Congress.
When elected officials and public figures in the media with wide audiences spread lies and conspiracies, or when they fail to publicly confront and disavow them, they corrode our democracy, and they incite destruction and violence.
We call on all entrusted with the privilege of leadership to act with maturity and decency. In our diverse society, your words and actions must model respect and a commitment to the truth, drawing us together in common purpose and responsibly shepherding the institutions of our democracy. It is not too late.

In a world where there is no humanity, you must strive to act with humanity.
(Ethics of our Fathers 2:2)
Torah “Justice, justice shall you pursue.”

Al Quran (5:8) O believers! Stand firm for God and bear true testimony. Do not let the hatred of a people lead you to injustice. Be just! That is closer to righteousness. And be mindful of God. Surely God is All-Aware of what you do.

Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

Al Quran (2: 224) And do not make [your oath by] God an excuse against being righteous and fearing God and making peace among people. And God is Hearing and Knowing.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Beware of the supplication of the oppressed, for there is no screen between it and God. God the Exalted said: O my servants, I have forbidden oppression for myself and have made it forbidden among you, so do not oppress one another.

Signatories:
Rabbi Michael A. White, Temple Sinai of Roslyn rabbimawhite@gmail.com
Pastor Marcus Tillery, Community Church of East Williston marcus.tillery@gmail.com
Dr. Isma H Chaudhry, Islamic Center of Long Island isma.h.chaudhry@gmail.com
Dr. Arthur Dobrin, Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island
Rabbi Jaimee Shalhevet of North Shore Synagogue of Syosset.
Pastor Rebecca Sheridan Faith Lutheran Church Syosset
Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum, President, North American Board of Rabbis
Sheikh Ammad, Founder the Halal Guide, President of South Asian Sports Network
Bishop Lionel Harvey, Presiding Prelate First Baptist Cathedral of Westbury
George Siberón, Board of Directors of the Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association
Hasan Sheikh, Founder & Director Muslims of Long Island
Tess Ma, Asian American Advisory Council
Pastors Danilo and Melissa Archbold, New Jerusalem Cathedral Inc. COGIC
Dr. Douglas Segan President Temple Israel, Lawrence
Dr. Mufti Mohammad Farhan Executive Director Islamic Center of Long Island
John H. Bae, Senior Pastor, New Creation Fellowship Church
Syed Wasim Quadri, Board of Trustees Children of Adam
Christine Liu, Asian American Advisory Council
Rabbi Art Vernon
Rev. Vicky L. Eastland, Pastor of Brookville Church
Ammad Sheikh, President High Traffic Marketing
Sue Huang, Herricks Chinese Association
Raza Dastgir, Founder & Director American Muslims of NY, General Secretary Pakistan Tehreek Insaaf NY
Abdul Aziz Bhuiyan, Chairperson Muslim Community of Nassau County (MCNC)
Mindy Perlmutter, Executive Director, Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island
Paramjit Singh head priest Glen Cove Gurudwara
Ting Dai
The Very Rev. Gideon L. K. Pollach, St. John’s Episcopal Church
Juleigh Chin, Asian American Advisory Council & Herricks Korean Community
Rabbi Judy Cohen-Rosenberg. Temple Or Elohim, A Community Reform Congregation, Jericho
Rev. Sung Hee Lee, Senior Pastor, New Church of NY.
Rabbi Jay Weinstein, Congregation Simchat HaLev
Rabbi Jenn Weinstein, Congregation Simchat HaLev
Sheree Liu, Herricks Chinese Association
Ajung Sojwal, Rector St. George’s Episcopal Church 319 Front Street, Hempstead
Rev. Dwight Lee Wolter Congregational Church of Patchogue
Rabbi Randy Sheinberg, Temple Tikvah New Hyde Park, NY
Bryant Lew, Asian American Advisory Council
V. Elaine Gross, President ERASE Racism Syosset, NY
Eric Post, American Jewish Committee Long Island Region
David Peng (Founder) Vanna Ye (Co-Founder) Youth Coding Innovation Club
Samiran Chakrovarty head priest NY Kali Mandir Baldwin
Leslie Davis, President, NAACP Westbury Branch #2184

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