FAN Press Conference
Friday, December 11, 2015 — Idris Mosque, Seattle
Co-Director Paul Benz interview on KOMO AM radio
“Police, religious leaders on alert amid possible hate crimes,” Crosscut
“Seattleites share their ‘honest messages to Muslims’,” King 5 News
Interfaith Leaders’ Council Statement
Love and care for the stranger is a fundamental tenet of the world’s religions. This principle of the human community is being challenged now, more than ever, by inflammatory, divisive speech from a variety of voices in our state and country that generate fear of our Muslim neighbors as well as Syrian refugees seeking asylum. We believe such speech threatens the well-being of members of our communities and can also contribute to continuing gun violence. Not only is love and care for the stranger a fundamental tenet of our world’s religions, it is also foundational to who we are as a country. Our constitution and basic principles of governance protect not only the minority opinion but make sure that the freedom of 
religious expression is protected as well.
As religious leaders from diverse faith traditions, we call upon all people of good will to unite together to respect people of all religious beliefs and cultural backgrounds – this is at the core of our national identity and security. We urge all who reside in our state to communicate with your federal, state, and local elected officials that we are to respect the human dignity of every person – no matter their religious or cultural background – especially as we enact laws and pass budgets. May each of us together be beacons of hope for justice and peace in all of our communities.
| Rev. Paul Benz Co-Director, Faith Action Network | Elise DeGooyer Co-Director, Faith Action Network |
| Rev. Carol Jensen Co-Chair, Governing Board Faith Action Network | Rev. Richard Gamble Co-Chair, FAN Governing Board Pastor, Keystone United Church of Christ |
| Rabbi Jaclyn Cohen Temple De Hirsch Sinai | Jonis Davis, FAN Governing Board Kol HaNeshamah |
| Rev. Michael Denton Conference Minister Pacific Northwest Conference of the UCC | Thomas Ewell Religious Society of Friends Quakers |
| Bishop Grant Hagiya United Methodist Church Greater Northwest Area | Rev. Cecilia Kingman Unitarian Universalist |
| Rev. Genjo Marinello, Abbot Seattle Zen Temple Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo Zen Ji | Rev. Sandra Messick Regional Minister & President Disciples Of Christ |
| Rabbi Jason Levine Temple Beth Am | Rabbi Aaron C. Meyer Temple De Hirsch Sinai |
| Rev. Sharon L. Moe FAN Governing Board Seattle First United Methodist Church | Michael Ramos Executive Director The Church Council of Greater Seattle |
| Imam Jamal Rahman Interfaith Community Sanctuary | The Rt. Rev. Gregory H Rickel Episcopal Bishop of Olympia |
| The Very Reverend Michael G. Ryan Pastor, St. James Cathedral Roman Catholic | Dr. Jasmit Singh Sikh Community of Washington |
| The Very Rev. Steven L. Thomason Dean, Saint Mark’s Cathedral Episcopal | Bishop Kirby Unti Northwest Washington Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America |
| Rabbi Daniel Weiner Temple De Hirsch Sinai | Rabbi Zari Weiss Kol HaNeshamah |