Moral Courage in Action: Faith Communities Confront Executive Overreach

This June, the Trump administration deployed the National Guard to California following widespread protests against a series of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across the city; protesters stood in solidarity with immigrant communities and voiced opposition to mass deportation. Executive overreach under the guise of making communities “safer” threatens the freedom and safety of protesters and distorts democratic norms. In August, the administration further displayed overreach by deploying National Guard troops and quelling protests in Washington, D.C. In September, the administration announced that Portland, Oregon, would be the next city to have troops mobilized in its community. In response, faith communities, along with their partners, have not relented and are pushing back in defense of immigrant rights and the integrity of our democracy. 

Faith communities have a long history of leveraging their influence to speak truth to power and organize for justice, with the Civil Rights Movement being a prominent example. Faith leaders often draw on sacred texts that call for compassion, hospitality, and the protection of the vulnerable. When government actions infringe on these values, it becomes a moral imperative for communities of faith to respond. The pursuit of justice is central to many faith traditions, and protest is one way to actualize one’s moral convictions. Deploying the National Guard to intimidate protesters directly threatens the First Amendment rights of faith communities and their freedom of religious expression. In September, the Interfaith Alliance filed an amicus curiae brief, acknowledging the historic role faith communities have played in public advocacy, while also agreeing that the Trump administration acted unlawfully in its deployment of troops to California

Recently, faith communities have stood up to the Trump administration, acting as a moral witness in defense of democracy. CLUE (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice) Justice engaged in song and peaceful resistance to protest ICE at the Federal Building in Downtown Los Angeles this past June. In response to the announced deployment in Portland, Oregon, faith leaders are countering fear and misinformation by partnering with mayors representing cities across the Portland area. The issues we face are undoubtedly about immigrant rights and executive overreach, however we would be remiss to not acknowledge how these are deeply intertwined with the state of our democracy. The intertwined issues of immigrant rights and executive overreach are inextricably linked to the declining state of our democracy and must be acknowledged as such.  

The current mandates by the Trump administration harm the division of authority between the states and the federal government, while actively eroding immigrant rights. In this moment, moral courage is imperative as the foundation of our democracy is at risk. We can look to communities of faith who, despite crackdowns meant to inspire fear, have found powerful methods of resistance while demonstrating an unrelenting commitment to protect democracy and our shared humanity.

The views and beliefs expressed in this post and all Interfaith Alliance blogs are those held by the author of each respective piece. To learn more about the organizational views, policies and positions of Interfaith Alliance on any issues, please contact info@interfaithalliance.org.