Letter of Christian Support for Student Ceasefire and Divestment Campaigns

Letter of Christian Support for Student Ceasefire and Divestment Campaigns

Last semester students risked their personal safety and their futures to express their opposition to the slaughter in Gaza and the violence and oppression in the West Bank. Soon students will be returning to campus where activism in solidarity with Palestinians and for Palestinian liberation are likely to continue. Visible faith community support for their efforts largely came from the Jewish and Muslim communities. Please show the students, and those who would seek to punish them for their efforts, that the Christian community supports them too by signing and sharing this letter. Below is an excerpt.

You can read the Complete Letter Here. The deadline to sign is September 15 at 6 pm eastern time.

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As Christians we have a deep appreciation and affection for Judaism. The Christian embodiment of compassion and justice is rooted in Jewish teachings. The books of the Jewish prophets are essential to our understanding of peacemaking, nonviolence, and liberation. The words of Isaiah that call us to free the oppressed, feed the hungry, provide shelter for the afflicted (Isa. 58:6-7 NABRE) are echoed in the gospels in the words and deeds of our savior Jesus. 

Jesus was a Palestinian Jewish person and his followers, mostly Jewish themselves, became the Palestinian Christians, over 200,000 of whom still live in the Holy Land. We can and we do hold both our Jewish siblings and our Palestinian siblings close to our hearts....

We weep for all those who have lost their homes, their limbs, their beloved ones and their own lives. We declare that our hearts are big enough to feel sorrow and have empathy for Palestinians and Israelis alike. We also know that more violence will not solve anything. The students are asking our government to stop the killing and to feed the hungry. This is exactly what our scriptures say. 

We urge you to listen to the students. Theirs is a just and moral cause.