As President Trump seeks to create a climate of fear and intimidation ahead of Election Day, people of faith are coming together across the country to help ensure that everyone feels safe and welcome at the polls.
Faiths United in Saving Democracy, a nonpartisan, interfaith coalition, is organizing more than 1,000 people across the country to serve as poll chaplains, seeking to be a “calm, reassuring presence to encourage more voters to exercise their rights without fear or hesitation.”
Among them will be FCNL General Secretary Bridget Moix, who will be serving as a poll chaplain in her home state of Ohio.
“In our faith tradition, we think about voting as a sacred act we want to protect,” Bridget told AP News.
These efforts are particularly important this year, with democracy in the United States facing serious threats.
“As scholars of democracy, we are watching America’s warning signs flash red,” one group of experts warned earlier this month.
“Neighborhoods, communities, and their governments have been thrust forward to protect themselves against federal repression,” they continued. “State governments, and major public, faith, business, and community institutions … offer our best hope for avoiding authoritarian takeover.”
Members of Congress, too, have a vital role to play.
As FCNL’s Chauncy Wadsworth explained, lawmakers must not wait until November 3 to speak out.
“From the dismantling of civil rights protections to the forced disappearance of residents, the Trump administration has frequently attacked Americans’ civil rights,” he wrote.
While federal law should protect voters from intimidation at the polls, we must be prepared for the possibility that President Trump could break or bend the law to make good on his threats to deploy troops or armed federal agents to polling locations.
As Bridget put it, “Our democratic struggle has always depended on people willing to defend it, and across the country there are signs of growing resistance and resolve.” Our members of Congress must follow suit.
Elsewhere
Strategy to End Iran War Post-Elections
With the upcoming midterm elections, we expect pressure to only continue to grow on Congress to act to end the illegal and immoral U.S. war on Iran. With a possible government shutdown looming, and the deadline approaching to pass the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), there are more opportunities to force action. FCNL’s Hassan El-Tayyab told The Intercept that Congress “shouldn’t pass a massive defense bill while leaving the administration free to pursue yet another open-ended war in the Middle East.”
Hopeful Legal Development Blocking ICE from Churches
This past week, a federal court revived the case brought by a coalition of faith institutions, including Friends General Conference, seeking to block immigration enforcement from churches and places of worship.
Ultimately, we need Congress to rein in ICE. Our public spaces are not places for violence, fear, and terror. Join us in calling on Congress to act!
New from FCNL
- Earlier in October, peacebuilders from East Africa came to DC to lobby Congress. FCNL, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), and the Salama Hub supported the delegation as they spoke to members of Congress about what their communities need from the U.S. FCNL’s Gabi Selmonosky wrote about the visit for FCNL’s blog.
- Given all the chaos, violence, and threats we see in the world, FCNL’s Peter Quaranto asked this week, what would the foreign policy we need for peace look like? As he pointed out, “How the United States – as the wealthiest and more powerful country – engages the world in this period of change will have an outsized impact on prospects for peace and security.”
- FCNL staff visited Kansas City last weekend for the Community of Christ Peace Forum on climate change. Stephen Donahoe and Jeffrey Jordan connected with faith leaders, gave policy updates, and explored the intersections between peace and climate action. Check out some pictures of the event here!
