Quakers call to end violent rhetoric
As people of faith and people of conscience, the North Sandwich Friends Quaker Meeting calls on all community leaders to interrupt the rising cycle of political violence.
We define political violence as using verbal threats, encouraging violent activity or engaging in violent activity against an individual or group of people for political reasons. The North Sandwich Friends Quaker Meeting denounces all forms of political violence.
Just this year alone, our country mourned the horrific assassinations of Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark Hortman in Minnesota, Charlie Kirk in Utah and the shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas, Texas. Our hearts break for the victims and their families.
Violence is never the answer. In the short-term, violence brings trauma to victims, their families and the whole community. In the long-term violence breeds distrust, resentment and calls for retribution. We must all work to interrupt this cycle.
As the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., himself a victim of political violence, reminds us “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” We are all called to be peacemakers, to assure the long-term safety of our communities, and to continually seek reconciliation and repair.
Therefore, we call on all community leaders, especially our elected officials, to publicly denounce violent rhetoric and actions, and to commit to seeking shared values through civil discourse and dialogue.