RICHMOND – The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (VICPP) celebrates the diversity of Richmond, a vibrant, growing, renewing city. This is true because of the legacy of civil rights organizations that have promoted diversity and human dignity here for several decades.
This legacy continues as VICPP joins other organizational partners to call for faith-based support of sanctuary. Contrary to popular belief, sanctuary cities do not shield people committing crimes from the criminal justice system. Sanctuary policies actually encourage cooperation with law enforcement by removing the fear of deportation and family separation from victims and witnesses of crimes. Crime reduction in cities with sanctuary policies is well-documented.
We support the City of Richmond’s sanctuary efforts.
VICPP is excited to partner with other community organizations this Saturday, March 4, to promote a community-building day. We encourage our neighbors from all over the city to join us in Jefferson Park for a family soccer game and community art project. Bring your lunch and meet at 11:30 at Jefferson Park in Church Hill. At 1 p.m. participants may choose to join a march to the State Capitol with the shared message of “Sanctuary For All.”
With all of the negative rhetoric surrounding sanctuary policies and our Muslim and immigrant neighbors, it is more important than ever to lift our collective voice and proclaim our shared values. All faith traditions share the call to welcome the stranger. Fear-mongering has no place in Virginia. VICPP stands with our most vulnerable neighbors in promoting policies that realize our shared human dignity.
For more information call (804) 643-2474 or visit: www.virginiainterfaithcenter.org/
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