The Society of Friends (Quakers) has a 350-year history of speaking truth to power when they feel that the rights of individuals or groups are being threatened.  The recent escalation in deportation threats to our friends and neighbors in the farming community is extremely disturbing. The truth about these activities is that they do not make us safer — they divert taxpayer funds from more beneficial uses, they disrupt families, communities, and businesses and they violate the inherent rights of all people to be respected members of the human community.
We appreciate the way our local law enforcement and elected officials are pushing back against discriminatory directives. We encourage others to speak out and take whatever actions they can to change this situation.
Tom Baskett and
Jean Rosenberg
Middlebury Friends Meeting (Quakers)