Faith Leaders Call for Defeat of Ballot Initiative Promoting Racial Profiling
Monday, July 28, 2008
Diverse religious and community leaders will gather on the steps of the Denver City and County Building today from 5:00 – 5:30pm to urge voters to vote NO on Denver Initiated Question 100 on the August 12 primary ballot. If passed, the measure would increase the likelihood of racial profiling and place a tremendous burden on law enforcement and other agencies. The speakers are announcing an unprecedented effort to educate their congregations on the harm this initiative would produce.
“Discriminatory laws clearly do not fit with our understanding of the Common Good, and that’s why We Believe Colorado is embarking on an extensive campaign to encourage people of faith to vote no on Initiative 100,” said the Rev. Jim Ryan, Council Executive of the Colorado Council of Churches and member of We Believe Colorado.
“We’re working hard to defeat Initiative 100 in order to preserve and protect the dignity of all persons and to prevent racial profiling,” says Rabbi Steven Forbes of Congregation Emanuel.
Speaking on behalf of the Catholic Archdiocese of Denver, Father Bernie Schmitz says:
"In a city as diverse as Denver, the atmosphere we want to create is one of courtesy and respect for the dignity of every human person. Initiative 100 would only create an atmosphere of fear and suspicion for anyone of diverse ethnicity-whether they are citizens or not. The Archdiocese of Denver urges Denver residents to oppose Initiative 100."
Bishop Warner H. Brown, Jr. of the Rocky Mountain Conference of The United Methodist Church says, “I stand in opposition to this unnecessary ballot initiative. It is contrary to the values of Denver's religious
communities as it encourages discrimination and harassment based on language, ethnicity, and race.”
Imam A-Rahim Ali of the Northeast Denver Islamic Center says, “We firmly believe that the values of tolerance will supplant the politics of fear, and that voters will soundly defeat this divisive and discriminatory measure.”
Where: Denver City and County Building, 1437 Bannock Street, front steps
When: Today, July 28, 5:00 – 5:30 pm.
What: Diverse religious and community leaders urge voters to vote NO on discriminatory ballot initiative
Who:
• Imam A-Rahim Ali, Northeast Denver Islamic Center/Greater Denver Interfaith Alliance
• Rev. Andrew Simpson, Vice-President , Colorado Council of Churches, Presiding Elder, African Methodist Episcopal Church
• Rev. Janet Forbes, on behalf of Bishop Warner Brown, Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Methodist Church
• Councilmember Paul Lopez, Denver City Council, cosponsor of Council Proclamation to oppose Initiated Question 100.
• Father Bernie Schmitz, on behalf of Catholic Archdiocese of Denver
• Rabbie Steven Foster, Temple Emanuel
• Lisa Duran, Executive Director, Rights for All People
• Rev. Lucia Guzman, United Methodist Church minister
