The Religious Society of Friends, (Quakers) have a long tradition of active engagement in peace and social justice movements. Along with others, Quakers have been in the in the forefront of movements including: the abolition of slavery, civil rights, indigenous rights, women’s suffrage, LGBTQ+ rights, environmentalism, and ending wars and militarization. This engagement arises from the Quakers’ core belief that there is “that of God” in all of creation. Quaker faith calls on its members to engage for the compassionate treatment of others.
Though some progress has been made, Quakers are keenly aware that the goals of these movements have not been fully reached. Quakers believe in “continuing revelation,” meaning that Christ’s message of compassion is continuously revealed to believers in evolving historical contexts. Each moment in history brings specific challenges and new opportunities to recognize the unfinished work, and to examine our own blind spots toward injustices in order to work toward a more equitable world.
Over the past year and a half, the Santa Barbara Friends Meeting has held a series of “seekers meetings” examining issues of racial injustice and our own roles in it. After much listening, learning, and contemplation we have come to a set of convictions to guide our actions as a Meeting. The following statement or “minute” articulates our position on racial injustice in the U.S. today and what we, as a community of faith in the broader society, must do to address it.
Minute on Justice and Equity through Racial Healing
Santa Barbara Friends Meeting (Quakers)
As people of faith with a deep commitment to equality, civil rights, justice, and peace, we commit to continuing our work toward racial healing and inclusion both locally and nationally, grounded in Spirit through study, prayer and action. This springs from our belief that we are all one people, one human community.
Friends Meeting of Santa Barbara (Quakers) stands with those protesting the continuing law enforcement violence against people of color as we affirm that Black Lives Matter. We are appalled by the disproportionate use of force by the Santa Barbara police and around the country. We mourn with their families as we call for justice for the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, our own Santa Barbara victims, Brian Tacadena, and Bryan Carreno, along with countless other victims of police violence and institutional racism. This persistent violence illustrates the predominant practices of white supremacy in the United States that are harmful both to the oppressor and the oppressed.
We call on our elected officials, including the mayor and city council of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County Supervisors, State Assembly, and Senate members, to prohibit the use of lethal and non-lethal weapons by the police against demonstrators and the continuing disproportionate use of violence against Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color. We call on our leaders to redirect police funding toward new investment in communities of color, toward mandatory civilian oversight, and toward alternative emergency response programs. We urge the US Congress to pass meaningful legislation to establish uniform nation-wide standards on the use of force by police, eliminate the violence in our criminal justice system, and demilitarize the police.
Police brutality is only part of the racism faced by people of color. In the spirit of our belief in “continuing revelation,” Quakers commit to recognizing, calling out, and dismantling systemic racism wherever we encounter it: in our lives, our Meetings, and in our society. This is a long-term commitment and is not the responsibility of people of color alone. It is the responsibility of white people – the people who built and continue to benefit from the system, to change it. We must listen deeply to friends and neighbors of color, to learn from their experiences and follow their lead when advocating for needed change.
As Quakers and members of the global community, we dedicate ourselves to building a society with equitable laws, quality education for all, principled foreign policy, and universal access to healthcare and living wages. We offer our skills in non-violence, group process, and communication to work with civic leaders and organizations toward the goal of a more just and inclusive society. We seek a world that truly recognizes the inherent dignity and worth of all human beings.