March 19, 2024

Local pastor speaks up for refugees at state capitol

Letter of support for Syrian refugees delivered to Gov. Branstad

Following the attacks in Paris and Gov. Terry Branstad’s announcing his intentions to block Syrian refugees from settling in Iowa, a group of Iowa clergy submitted a letter to Branstad’s office condemning what they call discrimination “against refugees on the basis of religion.”

Among those who participated at the capital on Nov. 23 was the Rev. Jessica Petersen of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Newton.

“I saw a petition calling for clergy to voice their concerns on their reaction to what a lot of politicians were having to recent events Paris and Beirut, in regard to allowing Syrian refugees into our state and into our nation,” Petersen said. “Having received that I said, yes, most definitely, I think we should welcome Syrian refugees and not discriminate based on their religious tradition and not be afraid they are going to be terrorists that are coming through.”

From there, she was contacted by Faith in Public Life about the event at the state capital to present the letter, which had been signed by more than 2,100 clergy members nation-wide with approximately 70 signatures from Iowa. Faith in Public Life, an organization based out of Washington D.C., is leading efforts throughout the country.

Portions of the letter state:

• We thus reject proposals by two dozen United States governors to close their states’ doors to Syrian refugees fleeing the unspeakable cruelty of ISIS and the Assad regime. We also condemn in the strongest terms proposals to discriminate against refugees on the basis of religion.

• Our elected officials have a responsibility to protect the nation, but turning away families who risk their lives to escape the destruction of war is unnecessary and wrong. America can prevent attacks without turning our backs on desperate refugees.

• We stand in support of public officials and faith communities who have answered the call to take in refugees.

• Since America’s founding, we have striven to be a land of opportunity and safe harbor. Each generation faces an opportunity to live up to these principles. At times we have succeeded, and at times we have failed.

• We pray that our leaders will meet the challenge of this day and reject fear and cruelty.

Petersen was one of several local clergy to speak at the event. She called upon the leaders of the state of Iowa as well as the United States to open the doors of our nation and welcome those she calls most vulnerable.

“I stand here before you disappointed by the fear-driven reaction of far too many of our nation’s leaders, including our own governor, that are calling for our nation and our state to close our doors, to shut our borders to refugees who are fleeing the Islamic State and the utter destruction of their country,” Petersen said. “To turn away, to reject, to discriminate against refugees fleeing the Islamic State is wrong, it is not the American way, and it is certainly not the way of Jesus.”

Following the presentations, those in attendance delivered the letter to the governor’s office personally. Branstad was not at the capitol at the time and Petersen said so far she had not heard of a response from the governor.

The event was in reaction Branstad being one of 30 governors nationwide to voice intentions to block Syrian refugees from settling in their state citing security concerns following the recent Paris terrorist attacks. Branstad directed state agencies not to prepare for Syrian refugee settlement but said he would be open to the idea if Congress passed a bill tightening security measures.

Branstad was not the only government official who received the letter recently. Governors from Georgia, Maryland, Wisconsin and Illinois have also been sent the letter with Michigan and North Carolina to be delivered in the near future.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com