Passersby on Highway 75 between St. Joseph and Waite Park may notice something new on their way to St. Cloud. A billboard quoting from the U.S. Constitution and promoting the message, “Justice and Respect for All,” is expected to make an appearance mid-January as part of a new campaign of the same name.
St. John’s University professor James Read, who is spearheading the movement, said the effort is a response to an increase in anti-Muslim messages and acts, specifically following the Nov. 8 election.
“We’re not going to change the minds of the haters,” Read said, “but I see this as a way to reassure people who are potentially targeted or discriminated against that there are people in the community who are on their side. We may not be as vocal or as obvious as some of the ugly things they’ve seen, but we are here.”
More than 100 supporters, including students, faculty, staff and friends of the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University as well as members of surrounding communities, have contributed to the making of the billboard as well as a website, www.justiceandrespectforall.org.
They also are creating radio spots. The recorded messages feature Read, who discusses religious freedom and the Constitution; Yemi, a student of the College of St. Benedict who immigrated from Nigeria; Benedictine Sister Mara Faulkner, who tutors English Language Learners at Discovery School in St. Cloud; and Fadumo, a labor and delivery nurse at the St. Cloud Hospital who came to the U.S. as a refugee from Somalia and became an American citizen. These messages will play on KCLD 104.7 and 99.9 MoreFM between Jan. 16-20.
“The Justice and Respect for All initiative features the lives and voices of immigrants and refugees in Central Minnesota, their native-born friends, neighbors and co-workers — themselves descendants of immigrants — and the United States Constitution that promises freedom of speech, freedom of religion and equal protection of the law to all,” the new website reads.
A similar effort took place last spring on the heels of a billboard erected between Waite Park and St. Joseph that read “Catholic Charities Resettles Islamists: EVIL or INSANITY?” Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud reported this inaccuracy and the billboard was taken down. While some Catholic Charities agencies around the country resettle refugees, the local one does not, although it serves people of all faiths and backgrounds.
Following its removal, donations were collected by interested individuals to raise a billboard with the phrase from Matthew 25:35, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” Many of the same supporters are part of this latest initiative. However, instead of using Scripture, the group decided to focus on the Constitution and what it means to be an American.
The new billboard includes a quote from the First Amendment, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
Read, who teaches political science, said some people need to be reminded of the foundation of the Constitution.
“What I think is important in this is that almost everybody claims to respect the Constitution,” Read said. “Many people have to be reminded that the Constitution protects your freedom of religion and that means you also have an obligation to protect the religious freedom of everyone else. No one has the right to impose their religion on others. Our Constitution rules that out. Our Constitution gives everyone the freedom to believe or not believe in whichever way they choose.”
Education is key
Sister Mara has been teaching English Language Learners for over three years and many of her students are Muslims. She said she started to worry about the Muslim people and saw a need to help others learn to care about people who might be new to the area.
Along with Benedictine Sister Margaret Michaud, Sister Mara conducted a four-week workshop last fall called “My neighbor is Muslim,” first, she said, to inform herself, but also to explore important questions many people are asking, including some of the negative perceptions and realities surrounding Islam.
“Knowledge is empowering. We need to find out the facts, really get to know the truth,” she said. “Naturally, there’s fear out there, but if we try to get to know each other one by one, there can be greater understanding.”
When she learned of the “Justice and Respect for All” campaign, she said she wanted to get involved.
“I don’t want people to be worried,” she said. “I think we can offer some of the same protections we want for ourselves. If we can challenge even one little misconception, it will be worth it for me.”
More information is available on the website above or by emailing info@justiceandrespectforall.org.