Rev. Jen & First U Board take part in press conference addressing DHS surveillance

Earlier today, Rev. Jen was joined by First U Board members, other organizations who were surveilled by the Department of Homeland Security, and members of the Minnesota 15. The purpose of the press conference was to call for people of faith, elected officials, and MN companies to come together to speak out against political retribution and intimidation. Rev. Jen’s full statement from the press conference:

I am the Reverend Jen Crow and I am proud to serve as Senior Minister of the First Universalist Church of Minneapolis, one of the congregations and organizations we now know with certainty was included in federal surveillance this winter. I’m joined by members of our church board of trustees today because we know that caring for our neighbors and protecting our rights is something we do together. If you join us on a Sunday morning, you will hear our whole congregation join in a responsive prayer where we say: You are not alone, we are holding it together. These are more than thoughts and prayers to us, they are a commitment we make real through our actions. 

As people of faith, we are called to stand together with our neighbors, especially when people in power try to intimidate others for peacefully protecting their communities. These sham investigations are political retaliation, an unconstitutional abuse of power, and a waste of taxpayer dollars that should be used to build up our communities, not surveil them. These are the actions of a bully, not a builder. 

In times like these, silence is not an option. We can never become too scared to care for each other. We are everyday people doing everyday things like sharing food and comfort and connection and we need everyone to join us. We call on people of faith, on communities of faith, elected officials and Minnesota companies to oppose political surveillance, demand transparency and accountability, and defend our right to organize peacefully. It’s time to make our prayers real and show again that in Minnesota no one is alone, we are holding it together. Join us. 

Media coverage:

Minnesota Reformer: Union members, activists defiant in the face of federal surveillance

CBS News: Twin Cities leaders condemn federal surveillance efforts during ICE surge

CBS News (VIDEO): Minnesota leaders speak out against federal surveillance efforts