Interfaith Social Justice Coalition A Special Message form IMIRJ Making the Impossible…Possible A Message from Our Friends from IMIRJ Dear friends, We have never seen a moment like this before. The pandemic and nationwide Black Lives Matter movement are unveiling the need for profound changes to the systems we’ve known our entire lives. Like with all changes, there is understandable fear of the unknown, feelings of disorientation, and in this case, immense pain not just for George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, or our Oregon Black community members killed by police violence, Kendra James, Keaton Otis, Aaron Campbell, Quanice Hayes, Jason Washington. We are in pain over the countless Black lives lost to centuries of systemic white supremacy. Yet despite the pain, our youth are leading us, including many from our congregations. We join them in faithful action to make what has felt impossible…possible. As a faith-rooted immigrant justice organization, we know that when our faiths call us to justice, it means justice for everyone. We honor that the freedom and safety of immigrants is inherently intertwined with the liberation of Black people. This is why more than ever, we must challenge ourselves to connect with the values of our faith traditions and truly embody them in our daily work against white supremacy and anti-Blackness. For IMIrJ, that has looked like having conversations with Black faith leaders, learning, showing up both in the streets and in our homes, and being in conversation with partners that have worked to defend Black Lives and defund the police for many years. While we are learning, we also want to act in solidarity with Black organizers in Oregon. We want you to learn and act with us. We invite you to: Attend our next “Sacred Pause: The Space Between Breaths” on Wednesday, June 10th, 10:00-10:40 AM. This Sacred Pause will be led by Black clergy and leaders, as we reside together in that sacred and uncertain space between inhale and exhale, between asking the questions and answering them. This week we will contemplate “What is truth and transformation in this moment?” To join us, RSVP here and you’ll receive the Zoom invitation. Attend a space for white allies hosted by Ron and Sarah, also on Wednesday, June 10th, 3:30-5:00pm. As white organizers and leaders we hold in paradox the need to speak up and also not speak at this time. As we follow the lead of our black colleagues, companions, and friends, we know the emotional labor it can take for leaders of color to accompany white people as we listen, learn, and sharpen our analysis around anti-Blackness and systems of white supremacy and racial injustice. With the encouragement of leaders of color, Sarah and Ron are going to facilitate a space for white leaders within the IMIrJ base to “do our work” in this moment. We’ll amplify analysis and demands from Black-led organizations, talk about how we show up, and look at ways we often get distracted in this work. We won’t cover it all- but will accompany, learn, and commit to one another for the long haul as we pursue justice for Black lives alongside our work for immigrant justice. Please RSVP here to receive the Zoom invitation. If you live in Portland, use Unite Oregon’s template or call to urge the Portland City Council to cut special units from the Portland police budget that is being finalized in the coming weeks. If you live outside of Portland, we encourage you to learn more about policing in your own community. How much money is being spent on policing in your city or county? How much on education and social services? How do these budgets reflect your values – or not? Follow and donate to black-led immigrant rights organizations; we suggest the UndocuBlack Network and the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI) In the upcoming weeks, we will open additional spaces for us to reflect and act. In solidarity, Alaide, Sarah, Ron, Abby, Emma, and Raquel Interfaith Movement for Immigrant & Refugee Justice (IMIRJ) Mission Statement The Interfaith Social Justice Coalition seeks to foster dialogue and action toward peace, justice, and environmental sustainability within the Rogue Valley and the wider world. We do this by coming together to support each other’s work, by sharing resources, both human and material, and by trusting that our differing beliefs, when we share our stories and work together, may serve the greater good.