Editor’s Note: This morning, a shooter near a Dallas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office opened fire from a nearby building, killing one detainee and injuring two others before killing himself. For several months, the Clergy League for Emergency Action and Response (CLEAR), convened by Faith Commons, has led prayer vigils outside the facility where the incident occurred. CLEAR and Faith Commons have released the following statement:
As faith leaders, we believe that all life is holy and therefore we grieve the tragic loss of life in Dallas today. Violence is never the path to justice, whether it is directed at government officials, representatives, or those in their custody. Far too much of our culture is bathed in a violence that tears apart communities, and sows fear and division among us all.
Our hearts and prayers are with the victims of today’s shooting whose lives were taken and with the families who are mourning. They were people made in the image of God, deserving of dignity, safety, and care. It’s a further horror of this event that persons being targeted for deportation were those harmed and killed by this shooter.
We are concerned that situations like this cause everyone to come away feeling justified in their outrage and anger. This makes this a particularly dangerous time.
Through our faith traditions, we stand with our migrant friends, the marginalized, recognizing the fear they experience.
We decry the targeting of anyone through acts of violence, and believe that justice cannot come from increasing lawlessness, whatever the source or alleged justification.
We hope that officials will quickly fill in the blanks to provide more information on the actual victims who were wounded or died, and we circle back to our continued prayers for them and for all those terrorized by this violence today.
We call our city and our nation to remember that true restoration is never built through violence but through compassion, equity, and the pursuit of justice for every neighbor.
(CLEAR is an interfaith coalition of 40 Dallas Area clergy who come together to advocate for issues of social justice from a faith perspective. Faith Commons provides leadership, resources and support to strengthen faith communities and communities through faith.)
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