Statement

After 20 years, we must no longer let the wounds of torture, indefinite detention, and a broken military justice system fester. We must finally close Guantanamo.

One year after a violent mob inspired by the sitting president encouraged an insurrection to block the count of electoral votes, our democracy remains at risk.

On Dec. 6-8, FCNL’s outgoing General Secretary Diane Randall and incoming leader Bridget Moix joined leaders from Quaker Agencies in London to mark a time of transition in our leadership and our work. Together they affirmed their collective commitment to working to build the just and peaceful world God tells us can be ours.

For what seems like the first time in far too long, the legal system has reinforced the twin pillars of justice in the United States: all are equal before the law and, while all are innocent until proven guilty, the guilty will be held accountable.

With this verdict—in all its devastating familiarity—a terrible truth is affirmed: Justice is not applied equally in the United States. The legacy of white supremacy continues to poison the very core of our justice system; protecting white people even as it inflicts continual harm on people of color.

The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) is set to kick off this weekend, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

This week, Congress has an opportunity to make what should be an easy vote to reduce child poverty, to bolster health care, and education.

On this International Day of Peace, I hope you will join me to speak out for peace, for ending violence and harm to communities and people who have been harmed, that you will act with FCNL in our collective work to build a more peaceful, equitable, and sustainable world.

If anything, the last 20 years has taught us that endless wars are harming people and the planet as well as the generations that come after us. Today, it is our fervent hope that endless war will be no more.

We call for the U.S. government to immediately welcome Afghans who are fleeing the country. We also call on our government acknowledge the harm it has caused, and use any remaining diplomatic leverage it may have to support multilateral violence-reduction efforts.