WCC deeply concerned at escalating violence in USA

Image: WCC

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev Prof Dr Jerry Pillay has expressed deep alarm over the escalating violence in areas to which US federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents have been deployed, especially currently in Minneapolis.

Dr Pillay said: 'The killings of Renee Good and - most recently - Alex Pretti have occurred in circumstances that any right-thinking person who has watched the video recordings of those events must surely recognise as requiring independent investigation and full accountability for any crimes that may have been committed. The justification of these killings by the US federal authorities and administration without any proper investigation certainly does not help the situation nor encourage federal agents to exercise restraint and caution to preserve human lives and peace.

"The WCC grieves for the lives lost, each of them precious to God. We mourn with the bereaved families, and we stand with the church and religious community leaders and all those who are demanding an end to the violence, justice for the victims, and respect for the God-given and inalienable human dignity and rights of every human being in the United States of America, and around the world.

"Let us do what the Lord requires of us: To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God. Micah 6:8