King has denied that his inquiries into Islam are “anti-Muslim,” but in prepared remarks Sunday the Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon said, “No matter what Rep. King may say, his hearings convey the implicit message that Muslims aren’t part of ‘us’ — and to this sort of bigotry, all citizens of conscience must say no!  When the family portrait of this country is painted, Muslims should have, must have, an honored place in it.”

The theme of the rally, expressed on signs held by participants and echoed by the speakers, was, “Today, I am a Muslim, too.”

The NCC general secretary recounted a list of groups in U.S. history that have been rejected by the majority as “not part of ‘us,’ including Native Americans who were forced from their homes, African American who were enslaved, and Japanese-Americans who were forced into detention camps during the Second World War.

“Today, we look back on these horrifying events with anguished remorse; and yet I wonder if we’ve learned anything from history.  Today, millions of Muslim Americans are subjected to thoughtless generalizations, open discrimination, and outright hostility because of a tiny minority whose acts of violence deny the teachings of the Quran and are denounced by other Muslims!”

Kinnamon noted that the majority of Muslims work in partnership with their fellow citizens to build a just and safe society. He cited the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), which he said was one of the NCC’s “closest partners.”

“This past week … ISNA issued a statement condemning in the strongest possible language the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian who was Pakistan’s Minister for Minorities,” Kinnamon reported. “According to ISNA’s statement, Mr. Bhatti’s work for religious and civic tolerance is more in line with Quranic teachings than those Muslims who justify or engage in violence.”

Kinnamon said he cared deeply about U.S. security and about the wellbeing of Christians minorities who live where extremism is prevalent.

“But so do millions of Muslims across this country,” he said.  “In the same way, the churches of the NCC affirm that we must care about the wellbeing, the dignity, of Muslims in our midst. On behalf of the fifty million members of our churches, I declare as loudly as possible that whenever Muslims are threatened or demeaned, so are we—because ‘today we are Muslims, too’!”

The full text of Kinnamon’s statement follows:

In 2011, Americans are in danger of succumbing to a bigotry that will scar our generation in the same way that bigotry scarred those who came before us. 

Three hundred years ago, Europeans came to these shores with a determination to conquer and settle at the expense of millions of indigenous peoples who were dismissed as sub-human—certainly not part of “us.” 

One hundred fifty years ago, white Americans still subjugated black human beings to a cruel slavery that was justified with Bible prooftexts and a self-serving belief that Blacks are inferior—not part of “us.” 

Seventy years ago, in a time of war and fearfulness, tens of thousands of Japanese-Americans were deprived of their property and forced into detention camps because surely persons of such ancestry aren’t part of “us.” 

Today, we look back on these horrifying events with anguished remorse; and yet I wonder if we’ve learned anything from history.  Today, millions of Muslim Americans are subjected to thoughtless generalizations, open discrimination, and outright hostility because of a tiny minority whose acts of violence deny the teachings of the Quran and are denounced by other Muslims!  No matter what Rep. King may say, his hearings convey the implicit message that Muslims aren’t part of “us”—and to this sort of bigotry, all citizens of conscience must say NO!  When the family portrait of this country is painted, Muslims should have, must have, an honored place in it. 

One of our closest partners at the National Council of Churches is the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).  This past week, to take only one example, ISNA issued a statement condemning in the strongest possible language the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti, a Christian who was Pakistan’s Minister for Minorities.  According to ISNA’s statement, Mr. Bhatti’s work for religious and civic tolerance is more in line with Quranic teachings than those Muslims who justify or engage in violence.  To quote from the statement, “we believe strongly in the responsibility of Muslims to ensure the safety and dignity of religious minorities in Muslim majority countries,” and “convey our deepest condolences for the burning of churches and the murder of Christians over the past few months.” 

As this indicates, Rep. King’s assertion that Muslims have not spoken out forcefully enough against extremism is simply wrong—indeed, it is slanderous.  If he wants to investigate extremism, then do so—but do not target one entire religion! 

As General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, I care deeply about US security and about the wellbeing of Christians in places where extremism is prevalent.  But so do millions of Muslims across this country!  In the same way, the churches of the NCC affirm that we must care about the wellbeing, the dignity, of Muslims in our midst.  On behalf of the fifty million members of our churches, I declare as loudly as possible that whenever Muslims are threatened or demeaned, so are we—because “today we are Muslims, too”!