We, the undersigned, as religious leaders from various faith communities, recognize that a common denominator in all of our traditions is the mandate to demonstrate compassion and hospitality. Speaking from this common tradition, we express our sincere and heartfelt solidarity with the immigrant community in the United States, a community that has come under increasing attack in the past several months.

We denounce the arrest of over 1,100 undocumented workers by police working under the direction of the Homeland Security Department in at least 26 states this week. The mass arrests were clearly calculated to intimidate the immigrant community and to frighten them from participating in the May 1st nationwide Boycott for Immigrant rights. This is an attempt to silence a growing Civil Rights movement, just as police were used to attempt to silence the movements led by Rev. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and César Chavez. We demand an end to arrests, deportations, and firings of immigrant workers.

We stand united against the campaign to scapegoat immigrants and blame them for economic problems that are, in fact, created by corporate greed and government policies that serve that greed. We refuse to let anything shake our unwavering solidarity with immigrant workers, and with all who are oppressed and under attack.

We wholeheartedly support the glorious upsurge of the immigrant-rights movement, and will support and defend as one important tactic the call for a nationwide boycott on May 1, a day of no school, no work, no shopping, and no selling. We encourage those clergy, seminarians, and members of all faith traditions who support this boycott in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in the immigrant community. We encourage everyone to come out to Union Square on Monday, May 1, at 4:00 pm, in a massive display of solidarity with immigrant workers and all working people.

In solidarity,

Fr. Luis Barrios, San Romero de Las Américas Church

The Rev. Earl Kooperkamp, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church

Rabbi Arthur Waskow, The Shalom Center

Seminarian Claudia De La Cruz, Union Theological Seminary

Seminarian Simon Morell, Union Theological Seminary

The Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou, National Coordinator Clergy and Laity Concerned About Iraq

The Rev. María Isabel Santiviago, San Juan Bautista, Bronx, New York

The Rev. Lucius Walker, Executive Director, Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization

Rabbi Michael Feinberg, New York City Labor Religion Coalition, New York

The Rev. Debra W. Haffner, Religious Institute, Norwalk, CT

Iman Al-Hajj Talib Abdur-Rashid, The Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood, New York City

Dr. G. Derrick Hodge, Prison Ministry, San Romero de Las Américas Church-UCC

Arelis M. Figueroa, Coordinator Latino Ministry The Riverside Church

Rev. Alex Orantes Iglesia Bautista Shalom El Salvador

Rev. Roberto Pineda Iglesia Luterana Popular de El Salvador

Rev. Ricardo Cornejo Iglesia Luterana Popular de El Salvador

Pastor Dr. Eliseo Ascencio Apóstoles y Profetas de El Salvador

José Santos Merche Pastor Indígena ILPES

Lic. Pastora Isabel Villegas ACF- ILPES

Pastora Sihuat Tute Pastora Indígena ILPES

Rev. Antonio Martínez Iglesia Pentecostal Salvadoreña

Dr. Jaime Recinos Iglesia Católica Comunidades de Base

The Rev. Pérsida Rivera-Méndez, National President of the Council for Hispanic Ministries, UCC

The Rev. Samuel Cruz, Trinity Lutheran Church

The Rev. Juan V. George, Diocese of New York, Episcopal Church

The Rev. Hilario Albert, Priest-in-Charge, St Peter's Episcopal Church, Port Chester, New York

T.J.Williams member of the United Church of Christ

The Rev. Rafaél García, Summerfield United Methodist Church, Ports Chester, New York

The Rev. Dennis Jacobsen, Director Gamaliel National Clergy Caucus

Minister Bradly Williams Hauger, United Church of Christ

Eddie Lopez, Jr., Center for Social Empowerment A faith Based Community Organization

Rabbi Stephen Jacobs, Kol Tikvah Jewish Temple in Woodland Hills, California

Colin Bossen, Intern Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach, Long Beach, California

Rev. Ellen Livingston, Minister Emerita, Monte Vista UU Congregation, Montclair, CA

Rev Ann Marie Coleman, Co-Senior Minister, University Church, Chicago, IL

Rev Don Coleman, Co-Senior Minister, University Church, Chicago, IL

Rev. Michael Caine, Ministro Conferencia Regional, New York, UCC

(list in process)

To add your name to this list, please contact: Fr. Luis Barrios