Statement of Justice and Solidarity with the Black American Community
In our last Friday sermon, we addressed the recent horrific murder of George Floyd and we expressed our condemnation and horror at such a crime. We would like to take this time to further express our solidarity with the entire Black American community and affirm the following:
- We of the American Muslim community of Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, recognize and affirm that it is our moral and religious obligation to reject and speak out against the brutal killing of our brother George Floyd, and against all forms of police abuse and violence. Our deepest sympathies and condolences are extended to Mr. Floyd’s family and we demand that justice be done to the perpetrators of this crime.
- We continue to be deeply angered and devastated by the continued acts of injustice, racism, and violence towards the Black American community.
- We further acknowledge the pain and harm of those in our own community who experience such violations by law enforcement on a routine basis and call for immediate reform in methods related to policing, criminal justice, profiling, and targeting of members of our community.
- We call on our elected representatives of all party affiliations and law enforcement officials of all communal levels to uphold justice, fairness, human decency, and to hold those responsible for crimes against community members accountable.
- We strongly urge all citizens to reach out to your local officials to demand for justice for George Floyd, his family, and for all others who have been victimized by police brutality.
- We ourselves affirm that we too are bound by the same standard of justice and equity that we expect others to abide by, for like the American community, the American Muslim community too holds justice as a virtue. We are guided by the following scriptural injunction:
- “You who believe, uphold justice and bear witness to God, even if it is against yourselves, your parents, or your close relatives, whether the person is rich or poor…” (Quran 4:135)
- “You who believe, be steadfast in your devotion to God and bear witness impartially; do not let hatred of others lead you away from justice, but adhere to justice, for that is closer to awareness of God.” (Quran 5:8)
May Our Lord protect our society and communities and bless our country with His peaceful grace. May God make us strong allies of justice and truth, good leaders and advocates for righteousness and fairness, reliable partners in building peaceful communities, and pioneering trailblazers in upholding virtue.
Islamic Society of Boston joined by Masjid Alhamdulillah