The recent events in Minnesota — including the fatal shootings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents — have reverberated deeply across the nation and within our communities, shaking us to our core. This moment calls us to speak from the heart of our moral and spiritual values, reaffirming the sanctity of life and our shared commitment to justice and compassion.
In response to these events, spiritual leaders and faith organizations from across the Greater Washington area have signed on to the following statement denouncing acts of state-sanctioned violence and affirming the dignity of human life and the pursuit of justice.
"The murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti—two U.S. citizens devoted to civic engagement and to caring for their immigrant neighbors—have left communities in Minneapolis and across the nation grieving, shaken, and rightly outraged. Their deaths are a profound moral failure, and they demand our collective attention and response.
"As faith leaders in the greater Washington, D.C. region, we affirm the sacred worth of every human life. That commitment includes—and compels us to stand with—immigrants and others who are especially vulnerable in this moment. We condemn without reservation the use of indiscriminate and lethal force against civilians. The actions we have witnessed in recent days represent a grave departure from our nation’s deepest moral commitments and from the values of human dignity, restraint, and accountability that our faith traditions uphold. When the power of the state is exercised without regard for life, justice, or the common good, the foundations of democracy itself are put at risk. We speak out now from a place of deep love for our nation and a growing concern that our own local communities will potentially experience the same loss of life and turmoil we are seeing in Minneapolis.
"Renee and Alex were killed while seeking justice for their community. We honor their lives by refusing to look away and by calling, together, for accountability from those entrusted with authority. At this pivotal moment in our nation’s life, we are faced with a choice: whether to allow fear, cruelty, and disorder to define us, or to respond with courage, conscience, and moral resolve. We stand with our neighbors, fellow clergy, and state and local leaders who have called on national authorities to end practices that place people in harm’s way.
"Throughout history, people of faith have been called to speak when human dignity is threatened. We believe that call is before us now. Communities in the greater Washington region have already experienced the fear and disruption caused by aggressive enforcement tactics, including incidents near schools and houses of worship—places that should remain sanctuaries, not sites of intimidation. We will not accept the tearing apart of our neighborhoods or the normalization of dehumanization. We urge government officials at every level to recommit themselves to policies that uphold life, dignity, and the rule of law. And we call on all people of conscience to work together for a society in which every person can walk their streets without fear, and with the knowledge that they are seen, valued, and protected."
| Robert Cardinal McElroy, Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Washington | The Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington |
| Rabbi Abbi Sharofsky, Director of Intergroup Relations & Rabbi-in-Residence, JCRC of Greater Washington |
Behram Panthaki, Head Priest, The Zoroastrian Association of Metropolitan Washington Inc (ZAMWI) |
| Romi Sawhney, Executive Director, Guru Gobind Singh Foundation (GGSF) |
Bishop LaTrelle Miller Easterling, Resident Bishop The Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula Delaware Area, The United Methodist Church |
| Rev. Dr. Sofía Betancourt, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association | Dr. Sousan Abadian, Executive Director, Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington |
The Rev. Dr. Philip C. Hirsch, Bishop. Metropolitan Washington, DC Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Rev. William E. Green, Senior Pastor, Silver Spring United Methodist Church
The Rev. Anne E. Derse, Deacon in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington
Rabbi Charles Arian, Gaithersburg MD
Rabbi Richard Marker
Rabbi Binyamin Biber - Humanists Helping Refugees - Silver Spring MD
Rev. Martha Daniels, Silver Spring United Methodist Church
Rabbi Marc Israel, Tikvat Israel Congregation
Rabbi Marc Gruber
The Reverend Douglas E. Fox, Liberty Grove United Methodist Church
Rev. Kenneth B. Hawes, Fairhaven United Methodist Church, Gaithersburg, MD
Rabbah Arlene Berger
Benjamin Suarato, Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Rabbi Dr. Rebecca Joseph
Rev. Dr. Leslie A. Klingensmith, Pastor, St. Matthew Presbyterian Church
Rev. Jocelyn C. Cadwallader, Pastor of the Warner Memorial Presbyterian Church (USA)
Rabbi Hannah Spiro (Hill Havurah, DC)
Rev. David A. Miller, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax
David Stoddard, Senior Warden, Transfiguration Episcopal Church
Rev. Abhi Janamanchi, Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Rev. Mark Harper, Takoma Park Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)
Rabbi Neil Tow, Congregation Sha'are Shalom, Leesburg, VA
Rabbi Amy Schwartzman, Temple Rodef Shalom
Reverend Mary Rodgers, Providence Presbyterian Church
Rabbi Batya Glazer
Rev. T.C. Morrow, Extended Clergy Team, Foundry United Methodist Church, Washington, DC
Rev. Michael Vanacore, Senior Pastor, Pilgrim United Church of Christ
Rabbi Jeffrey Saxe, Temple Rodef Shalom, Falls Church, VA
Rev. LeAnn Hodges, Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church
Rabbi Jonah Layman - Shaare Tefila Congregation
Rabbi Stephanie Bernstein
Rabbi Jill Levy, Ramah Day Camp Greater DC
The Rev. Melissa Fauci, Church of the Holy Comforter (Episcopal)
Rabbi Hannah Goldstein, Temple Sinai
Rev. Dr. Trish Hall, Centers for Spiritual Living
Rabbi Rain Zohav
The Rev. Yoimel Gonzalez Hernandez, St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church
Rabbi Sarah Bassin, Rabbi in Residence, HIAS
Rev. Ginger E. Gaines-Cirelli, Senior Pastor, Foundry United Methodist Church, Washington, D.C.
Rabbi Aaron Alexander, Adas Israel Congregation
Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt, Adas Israel Congregation
Rev. Dr. Laura Norvell, Faith United Methodist Church – Rockville
Rabbi Adam Rosenwasser, Temple Emanuel
Rabbi Melanie Aron
Rabbi Michael G. Holzman, Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation (NVHC)
Rabbi Alexandra Stein, Temple Rodef Shalom
Rabbi Sid Schwarz, Founding Rabbi, Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation
Rev. Cynthia Lapp, Hyattsville Mennonite Church
The Rev. Sari Ateek, St. John’s Episcopal Church
Catherine Stratton Treadway, Clerk, Sandy Spring Friends Meeting (Quakers)
The Rev. Lesley Krauland, Deacon, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, College Park, MD
Rev. David Gray, Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church
The Rev. Emily Guthrie, Christ Episcopal Church, Kensington
Emory Grove United Methodist Church
Rev. Sandy Kessinger
Rabbi Eric L. Abbott, Bethesda Jewish Congregation
Rev. Joshua Henry Narcisse, Senior Pastor, Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church
Rabbi Ariel Tovlev, Kehila Chadasha, Silver Spring, MD
Rabbi Deborah Reichmann, IFFP
Rabbi Greg Harris, Congregation Beth El
The Rev. Catherine Manhardt, Associate Rector, St. James Episcopal Church, Potomac
Metropolitan AME Church
The Rev. Jessica K Hitchcock, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Bethesda, MD
Rabbi Jeremy Kridel
Rabbi Michael Safra, B'nai Israel Congregation, Rockville, Maryland
Rabbi Aderet Drucker, the Den Collective
Rev. Laura Batten-Carbaugh, Pastor, Colesville Presbyterian Church
Christine King, New Neighbor Interfaith Alliance
The Rev. Mark Michael, Rector, S Francis Episcopal Church, Potomac, MD.
Cantor Ze'evi Tovlev, Temple Shalom, Chevy Chase, MD
Rev. Dr. Kate Epperly, Westmoreland Congregational UCC
Rabbi Scott Perlo, Adat Shalom Synagogue
Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, President, Maqaame Ibrahim Islamic Center
Rev. Dr. Christopher Wilkins, St. Mark's Episcopal Anglican Church, Fairland / Silver Spring, MD
Rabbi Gary Pokras, Temple Beth Ami
Rabbi Baht Yameem Weiss, Temple Beth Ami
Cantor Inbal Sharett-Singer, Temple Beth Ami
Rabbi Alison Kobey, Congregation Or Chadash
Rabbi Jake Singer-Beilin, Bet Mishpachah
Fabrangen Havurah
James Smith, President, Empathy Forward
Rabbi Alana Suskin
Rev. Michelle Burkholder, Associate Pastor, Hyattsville Mennonite Church
Cantor Jason Kaufman
Rabbi Amelia Wolf, Congregation Etz Hayim
Rabbi Steven Rein
Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook, Executive Director, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
Rev. Dr. Brian Lee, New Covenant Fellowship Church, Germantown, MD
Cantor Susan Caro, Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation
Rev. Denise Diaab, Associate Pastor Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church
Rabbi Jack A. Luxemburg, Emeritus, Temple Beth Ami
Rabbi Jennifer Weiner
Rabbi Emerita Rosalind Gold, Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation
Rabbi Donald Berlin
Rabbi David Widzer
Rabbi Fred N. Reiner, Rabbi Emeritus, Temple Sinai, Washington, DC
Rabbi Ashley Barrett, Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation
Rabbi Robert Levy, Washington, DC
Rabbi George Billinson, Congregation Adat Reyim
Rev. Dr. Jay Moses, Saint Mark Presbyterian Church, PCUSA
Dumbarton United Methodist Church, Washington, DC
Rabbi Emeritus Jonathan Schnitzer, B'nai Israel Congregation
Baltimore-Washington Conference of The United Methodist Church
Episcopal Church of the Ascension
Islamic Society of the Washington Area
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Waldorf, MD
Rev. Dr. Christopher Zacharias, Pastor, John Wesley AME Zion Church
St. Nicholas Church, Germantown, MD, Episcopal Diocese of Washington
Maryland Buddhist Vihara
The Rev. Henry McQueen, St. John's Episcopal Church Olney MD
Daniel G Zemel, Rabbi Emeritus, Temple Micah
The Rev. Shivaun Wilkinson, Associate Rector St. John’s Episcopal Church, Chaplain St John’s Episcopal School
Pastor Christopher Weidner, Metro DC Synod ELCA
P. Morse, Northminster Presbyterian Church
Rabbi Mitchell Berkowitz, B'nai Israel Congregation
Haneefiya America
Amy Benedict, St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, Germantown MD
Rabbi Gerald Serotta
Rabbi Bruce E. Kahn
Hazzan Asa Fradkin, Congregation Beth El
St. John's, Lafayette Square
Rabbi Aaron Potek, Sixth & I
St. Rose of Lima Catholic Parish
Rabbi Evan Krame, The Jewish Studio
Rabbi Jonathan Miller
Zionist Rabbinic Coalition
Cantor Rachel Rhodes, Temple Sinai DC
The Venerable Steve Seely, Archdeacon, Episcopal Diocese of Washington
ISKCON of DC
The Rev. Susan Fritz, Deacon, Episcopal Diocese of Washington
The Ven. L. Sue von Rautenkranz, Archdeacon Emeritus, Episcopal Diocese of Washington
Rabbi Adam Raskin, Har Shalom, Potomac, MD
The Rev. Donna Stinchcomb, St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Laurel MD
Rev. Elizabeth Dixon Deacon St. Barnabas Leeland
Thomas Sinclair, Chief Operating Officer, Episcopal Diocese of Washington
Religious of Jesus and Mary, USA-Haiti Province
Cantor Max Silverstone, Congregation Har Shalom - Potomac, MD
Rev. Mary Sebold, Washington, DC
The Rev. Dr. Harvey E. Bale, Jr, Deacon, the Episcopal Diocese of Washington
Reverend Linda Mahler, Deacon, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Silver Spring, MD
Rev. Dr. Katherine E. Brown
Cantor Rochelle Helzner, Tikvat Israel Congregation
The Rev. Susan K. Walker, Deacon, St. Thomas, Washington D.C.
The Very Rev. Randolph M. Hollerith, Dean, Washington National Cathedral
Hill Havurah
Congregation Beth Emeth
Fr. Stephen Carter, Pastor of Christ the King Catholic Church
Rabbi Rachel Hersh JSSA
Rev. Dr. Paul W. Johnson, Goshen United Methodist Church
Rabbi David Shneyer, Am Kolel
Deacon Mary Alcuin Kelly, St. Stephen and The Incarnation, Episcopal Diocese of Washington
Rev. Bill Haley, Coracle
Amata Meditation Center
Reverend Nancy Stockbridge, Deacon St. John’s Olney, MD
Rev. Holly Jackson, Associate Conference Minister of the Central Atlantic Conference of the United Church of Christ
The Rev. Julie Petersmeyer, Deacon, Episcopal Diocese of Washington
Rev. Dr. Rebekah A. Savage, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rockville
Rev. Mykal Slack, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rockville
Raj Khalsa Gurdwara
SS Mata Mandir Kaur Khalsa, Sikh Dharma International
Bethesda Friends Meeting, Bethesda, Maryland
Reverend Kenneth Nelson
Pastor Stephen Erich, Takoma Park Seventh-day Adventist Church
Rev. Dr. David Milam, Honorably Retired, National Capital Presbytery
Rev. Blake A. Collins, National Capital Presbytery (PCUSA)
Rabbi Susan N. Shankman, Washington Hebrew Congregation
Rabbi Eliana Fischel, Washington Hebrew Congregation
Rabbi Rachel Schmelkin, Washington Hebrew Congregation
Reverend Dr. Gerard Green, Pleasant View Historical Association
Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, Maqaame Ibrahim Islamic Center
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community