Church denounces Mideast violence
We, the members of the Unitarian Church of Evanston, in accordance with the 8 Principles of Unitarian Universalism, respect the inherent worth and dignity of each person. We affirm the principles of justice, equity and compassion in human relations and our interconnectedness. With this resolution, we add our voices to those of many faith organizations speaking out for peace and safety.
We urge U.S. federal, state and municipal officials to call upon Israel and Hamas to:
Enact an immediate, lasting, bilateral cease-fire.
Enable humanitarian aid to enter Gaza in sufficient quantities to meet the scale of need.
Unconditionally release all hostages held by Hamas and detainees held without charges by the Israeli government and return human remains.
We call upon U.S. federal officials, including the President, Senators and Representatives to:
Vote no on providing more military funding and weapons for this war.
Pressure all sides of the conflict to address the root causes of the violence and work toward a future in which all Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace and equality, with security and human rights protected for all.
We unequivocally and equally condemn the deadly attacks and sexual violence perpetrated on innocent Israeli civilians by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, as well as the decades of disproportionate death, detention and displacement of innocent Palestinian civilians by the Israeli government. The leaders of both Israel and Hamas have engaged in war crimes against innocent civilians who have endured decades of trauma. Continued escalation of this violence will only result in more death, destruction and the absence of safety and security for all parties to the conflict. We denounce the rising tide of antisemitism and Islamophobia in our country and around the globe.
We urge all communities to demand a permanent, total cease-fire to address the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza so that the long process of finding a permanent and just political solution can begin anew.
Martha M. Holman
Evanston