More than 14,000 clergy members, all part of The Clergy Letter Project, have released a statement saying that while some language used by white supremacists may be protected, it isn’t acceptable.
The Clergy Letter Project is an effort from American Christian, Jewish, Unitarian Universalist and Buddhist clergy in support of the teaching of evolution.
Michael Zimmerman, founder and executive director for The Clergy Letter Project, said the project was created to “demonstrate that religion and science can be compatible.”
In a contributed article to The Huffington Post, Zimmerman says that genetically, a white person and a black person are more similar than two black people.
“For the average geneticist, race simply does not exist,” he says.
“Similarly, from a religious perspective, we know that all people, regardless of any demographic attribute, should be treated fairly.
“Therefore, simply put, the vile rhetoric being spewed by white supremacists is religiously and biologically bankrupt,” he added.
Zimmerman said that the increasing violence is “terribly troubling” and he is hoping the message from the 14,000 clergy members encourages others to also see that any hateful speech is unacceptable.
“We can build a better society – but our voices must be heard. If we work together, we can eliminate the scourge of white supremacy and the very real instances of racism that exist in our society. Please join us in our efforts.”
Photo: Hundreds of people gather for a vigil on the spot where 32-year-old Heather Heyer was killed when a car plowed into a crowd of people protesting against the white supremacist Unite the Right rally August 13, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Charlottesville is calm the day after violence errupted around the Unite the Right rally, a gathering of white nationalists, neo-Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan and members of the 'alt-right,' that left Heyer dead and injured 19 others.
Photo courtesy: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Publication date: August 14, 2017
