Inland Valley Friends Meeting Minute in Support of Quaker Meetings Suing the Department of Homeland Security over Immigration Enforcement and Religious Freedom
Inland Valley Friends Meeting (IVFM) is in unity with the suit brought by Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, New England Yearly Meeting, Baltimore Yearly Meeting, Adelphi Friends Meeting and Richmond Friends Meeting against the Department of Homeland Security regarding their new policy permitting government agents to carry out immigration enforcement activities at or near houses of worship. We agree that the January 20th rescindment of protections for people without legal status in sensitive locations such as places of worship is unconstitutional and violates the first amendment protection of the right to practice religion.
Quakers have historic experiences of religious persecution which make us especially sensitive to the protection of the free exercise of one’s spiritual beliefs. As Quakers we believe there is that of God or Light in every person and that Truth is continually revealed to us in our gathered Meetings for worship. This new government policy would impede our ability to freely gather together for worship and the presence of armed government agents at or near our Meeting houses would violate our testimonies on peace and non-violence.
IVFM commends the courage and initiative of the Meetings bringing this lawsuit as well as the Democracy Forward non-profit organization representing the suit. We hold these Meetings and the proceedings of this lawsuit in the Light.
