In response to the fliers recently posted in the Kirkland area by supporters of a neo-Nazi group, the clergy of the Greater Kirkland Ecumenical Parish (GKEP) stand united in affirming the dignity and worth of people of all racial backgrounds, ethnic origins, genders, sexual orientations, religions and abilities. The posting of fliers of this sort is an affront to the values of our community and our faiths, and we are compelled by our faith to speak out and work to counter the seeds of discord, hatred, fear and intimidation that these fliers promote.

We are people who are guided by our deep and abiding faith in a loving God, and we find it repugnant that this bigotry and hatred has been brought to our community. Our churches celebrate that Kirkland is made up of people of many racial backgrounds, of people who come from a diversity of countries of origin and of people who practice many faiths. We believe that we are all created as holy by our God.

Rather than merely ignoring these posters and hoping that racism and hatred will fail to find a foothold in Kirkland, our faith calls us to respond. As such, our faithful response to those who seek to sow hatred in our community is to offer love and compassion to all people. Our faithful response to those who seek to sow division is to open our doors and welcome stranger and friend alike. Our faithful response to those who are inciting fear is to work diligently for peace and justice in our community and our world. We pray that our community can stand united in the effort to meet racism and divisive rhetoric with love.

Faithfully,

The Greater Kirkland Ecumenical Parish