‘Dangerous and Should not be tolerated’: UCC signs letter denouncing anti-Muslim bigotry from elected officials

The Office of Public Policy and Advocacy, as well as the National Ministries of the United Church of Christ, joined other faith leaders, denominations, and organizations in signing onto a letter denouncing anti-Muslim bigotry from elected officials. The signing of the letter culminated with a public gathering outside the United Methodist Building in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 9. 

The letter, officially called Anti-Muslim Bigotry from Political Leaders is Dangerous and Should Not Be Tolerated was spearheaded by the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign, and has the support of more than 70 organizations, and denominations, as well as over 200 individual signatories. The letter says, in part, “the blatantly anti-Muslim rhetoric from elected officials in recent months requires us to speak out. Politicians continue to say deeply harmful things, with little to no consequences: claiming that Muslims don’t belong in the country.” 

The Rev. Michael Neuroth, director of the Office of Public Policy and Advocacy, was one of the readers at the gathering outside the Methodist building, across from the capital. He says it was important for him and the UCC to stand “shoulder to shoulder” with ecumenical partners to urge lawmakers to end harmful anti-Muslim retoric.

“Instead of moving toward dialogue and understanding over these years, we’ve seen a rash of new anti-Muslim bills and refugee bans that run counter to the UCC values of diversity and radical welcome,” said Neuroth. “Let us seek to break down the dividing walls between us (Ephesians 2:14–15) and again stand ‘shoulder to shoulder’ for a world in which all may thrive and may enjoy a future of love, justice, and peace.”

According to a series of polls done by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, a research organization with a specific focus on the lives of Muslim Americans, there was an increase in Islamophic incidents between 2022 and 2025, specifically with the 18-29 age group. The polls also showed an increase in Islamophobia in White and Hispanic Americans, while remaining stable for Black Americans.

“I am a safer Jew living in the United States when my Muslim neighbors are safe,” said Rabbi Esther Lederman of the Union for Reform Judaism, who was one of the featured speakers at the demonstration. “We can all celebrate and be held by God, even though we may have different pathways to that.” 

The letter in full can be read HERE. Highlights of the demonstration can also be viewed HERE. 

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