ICNY’s E-Bulletin for May is available here
Message from ICNY Executive Director
Dear Friends,
Greetings from The Interfaith Center of New York. At this time of year ICNY is usually announcing the James Parks Morton Honoree and the date of our annual fundraising dinner. This year we will be doing something different. With the help of our new Development Director Chris Thompson (christopher@interfaithcenter.org) we will be asking each of you to help us meet our June 30th end-of-fiscal-year deadline with what you WOULD have contributed towards our work had we had a gala. Our hope is that we will meet our financial goals, and you will get a night off. Be prepared, however, to mark your calendars for the 20th Anniversary Celebration of The Interfaith Center of New York in 2017!
And the work goes on.
As many of you know, the Muslim community in NYC has been the target of NYPD surveillance for years. Activists, people of faith, and concerned citizens have been speaking out against this activity, which resulted in the Raza v. City of New York lawsuit. Currently, there is a rare opportunity for Fairness Hearings on a proposed settlement, in which individuals and organizations may submit statements on the record. Join us this Tuesday, May 3rd 11:30 AM-1PM in Conference Rm A of the New York Theological Seminary, 475 Riverside Drive to hear attorney Martin Stolar on Handschu (the guidelines regulating police behavior in NYC with regard to political, ideological or religious activity) and learn how you and your faith community can submit statements in favor of the settlement as it now stands or in support of further changes. The deadline for statements has been extended to May 19th 2016. Please see the below links for further information:
~ The proposed new settlement, showing changes from the current post-9/11 version
~ A summary of the current situation and the proposed new settlement
~ An overall FAQ on Handschu, Raza, and the settlement
Elsewhere on May 15th the Buddhist Council of New York celebrates the 30th annual celebration of Vesak or “Buddha’s Birthday,” cosponsored by Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church in Midtown. Also, Bryan Stevenson, author of “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption” and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative will be speaking at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Harlem at the invitation of Circles of Support. The weekend of May 20-21st will be the Thrive NYC Mental Health Weekend for Faith-Based Communities–a partnership between First Lady Chirlane McCray, the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene—and faith communities around the city.
For voters in New York City’s 13th District, it’s important to get to know the candidates vying to fill the U.S. Representative post being vacated by Charles Rangel. Please see our YouTube playlist of videos from the Faith Communities’ 13th District Congressional Debate, and watch 6 of the 7 candidates discuss issues relating to youth, criminal justice and reentry. The primary election is scheduled for June 28.
Finally, this month brings the publication of two new articles from Our Muslim Neighbor. In “Combating Islamophobia with Our Shared Humanity,” Tarunjit Butalia shares how a simple act of communication turns a tense moment of suspicion into one of friendliness and respect. And in “Leaving America: The Land I Want to Move To,” Dr. Omid Safi, an American Muslim, offers his take on the often jokingly-inspired question, “Where in the world will I move to if Donald Trump becomes President?”
Best Wishes,
Rev. Chloe Breyer
Executive Director
The Interfaith Center of New York
