To the Editor:

We in the Cranston Clergy Association would like to add our voice to that of other clergy and religious organizations in strongly condemning the recent vandalism against the Islamic School of R.I.

This kind of hate crime has no place in our community. In fact, this incident runs counter to the growing interfaith understanding that is taking hold across the state of R.I. through the work of statewide organizations and local congregations, including our own work in recent years.

Just this past January, the Cranston Clergy Association hosted the second annual celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Over 500 people attended the event at the Park Theatre, which included speakers, music, and other participants in an interfaith (Jewish-Christian) and multi-racial celebration of Dr. King’s message of a “beloved community” rooted in God and our love of our neighbor.

Today we still take comfort and inspiration from the words of Dr. King, which were spoken in a time when for many Americans “hate crimes” were the norm:

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

And so, we want the Islamic School and our Islamic brothers and sisters to know that this incident does not truly represent our community or the vision of the wider religious community both locally and statewide.

As we seek to go forward as a united community against the violence and hatred of the attack on the Islamic School in West Warwick, we seek to root our actions and our words in our religious traditions and the commandments of our sacred texts.

The Rev. Scott Spencer,

Pastor,

Woodridge United Church of Christ

On behalf of the members of the Cranston Clergy Association