Link to pdf of minute from Kent Friends Meeting in Kent, OH

Minute on the Harms Caused by the Actions of our Current Governments

Kent Friends Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) wishes to express our concern with the recent actions of our current governments. As Quakers we value Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality, Justice, and Stewardship. We are called to search for the Truth and to recognize “that of God,” a divine Light, that is inherent in every person. We believe the policies of
the current governments are in stark conflict with the values and holy guidance we believe we are called to follow. Our concerns include:

• Ongoing violations of, and efforts to undermine, our constitutional form of government with its tripartite structure, separation of powers, and checks and balances.
• Frequent attacks on our Constitutional principles and guarantee of free speech.
• A disregard for, and frequent violation of, basic civil rights of citizens and residents, including failure to provide due process for all on American soil.
• An apparent inattention to the sworn obligation to see that laws are faithfully executed.
• The apparent use of Federal office to enhance personal wealth.
• The defunding and dismantling of food and nutrition programs that deprive children, the poor and the elderly.
• Cutting services and funding for America’s veterans, the Social Security program, and healthcare.
• The rescission of funding for and attacks on science and research in health care and other areas in violation of existing laws and the will of the people.
• The denial and suppression of honest discussion of history, including the historical maltreatment of ethnic and social minority groups, as we struggle to perfect the union.
• Replacing truth and factual accuracy with groundless conspiracy theories and endlessly repeated falsehoods.
• The cruelty and shortsightedness we see in the defunding of international aid programs that help children and other people in crisis and the real threat of causing widespread death.
• Support for foreign wars that deprive people of life and liberty, including in Gaza.
• Implied and explicit support for totalitarian regimes around the world and their suppression of human rights of their citizens and residents.
• Abandonment of historical allies and refusal to support Ukraine as it defends against the Russian invasion.

Recognizing the seriousness of these issues and the need for immediate and sustained action to address them, we encourage everyone who shares our belief in the inherent dignity and worth of every person, and shares our concern for justice, truth, and our rights, to join us in making your voice heard. It would serve us well to be reminded that, in the face of injustice and that which is
wrong, our silence is complicity. We implore you to join us in making your voices heard in all forms of nonviolent action, including public protest, letter writing, phone calls or emails to public officials, and lobbying our representatives.