Clergy Against Racism (CAR) recognizes that as people of faith, we have a moral and legal responsibility to stand against voter suppression and the blatant racism that it represents. The members of CAR have been called to hold our nation up to its highest ideals by appealing to its civic and biblical responsibilities.
CAR believes that our country should live according to the two literary agents that it was founded upon, the Bible and the Constitution. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. simultaneously lifted up both while demanding that America live up to its creed of liberty and justice for all.
We refute the propaganda and disinformation campaigns that undermine every citizen’s right to vote, which is the foundation of our democracy. It is the fragility of democracy caused by an outright assault on people’ rights to vote that drives CAR’s call to protect the vote and challenge the efforts to deny it.
Morally, CAR believes all human beings are made in the “Imago Dei,” the image and likeness of God- a core tenet of Christianity, Judaism and other faiths. So, any strategy that would intentionally or unintentionally negate people’s votes because of color of their skin is not just a partisan tactic, but rather a denial of their “Imago Dei,” a theological, biblical, and spiritual offense to God. Protecting the right to vote affirms the divine imprint and inherent value of all God’s Children.
The form of government wisely chosen by our Founding Fathers – a representative democracy-will fall into anarchy and chaos if our citizens’ opportunity to vote is suppressed or impeded. Free and fair elections are the defining characteristics of a democracy. Efforts to suppress, impede or override the popular vote for elected representatives-at the federal, state, or local level-breed widespread mistrust and disrespect among our citizens. They threaten the stability of the United States. There is nothing constructive about voter suppression.
And there is nothing constructive about spreading untruths (lying) about the integrity of the vote in United States elections. Our entire legal system is grounded on finding the truth and not upon alternatives to the truth. Attempts to live by anything other than the truth is what led to the violent insurrection that occurred at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
John Lewis said, “The vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democracy.” CAR deplores all efforts to place limits on the ability of individuals to cast their vote, or to manipulate and dishonor the results of an election. We especially deplore the use of untruths and misinformation to justify such efforts.
With all of our determination and strength, we must fight for free and fair voting in all of our elections, and we must fight for truth as the basis for everything we do in our society, especially in our national discourse as citizens. This fight is against racism, but it goes far beyond racism.
Board of Directors, Clergy Against Racism, Inc.
Richmond, Virginia
September 23, 2021
