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This nation is not a true democracy. Every time we say it is, we lie to ourselves, our children, and the world. When we elect public officers in the name of democracy, it becomes a lie as soon as a camping ban is passed or evidence is withheld of a public servant taking a citizen's life. If this was a true democracy, then there would be none of that.

The Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) sent thirty-one pillowcases and accompanying letters to each of the thirty-one governors who supported refugee bans in their states. The pillowcases bear the message #GiveRefugeesRest and are symbols of both a wake-up call for political leaders to remember our common humanity as well as a demand to provide basic needs of suffering people:  

Dear Friends,

This last year has brought great challenges to our community. We have addressed adversity in ways that shape new possibilities for our world. Today, I am writing to tell you about new possibilities in my own life that will further develop me and increase the scope and impact of my work.

Anthony Grimes, a member of the National Council of IFOR's branch in the United States witnessed a police altercation while in Amsterdam for a project sponsored by Kerk en Vrede and the IFOR Secretariat. IFOR International Coordinator, Lucas Johnson, also witnessed the incident. Rev. Grimes video received over 168,000 views and stirred controversy in the Netherlands. IFOR and Kerk en Vrede release the following statement in response to the controversy:

"Many of my friends questioned my sanity when I told them that I was going, that I had to go in spite of the news images and livestreams that depicted Ferguson as a local Fallujah. “Why?” they asked. My best response was that every inclination of my being told me that Ferguson is a critical battleground for history that we could not afford to concede."  

"Take as much space as you need to write whatever you need to say." This is what, Cara Degette, editor of Greater Park Hill Newspaper graciously told me as she asked me to write this month's feature article. I titled it "Reborn in Ferguson." Read about my reflections on Ferguson and the Denver Freedom rides, as well as our vision for the future of this movement here. But be sure to pick up a physical copy too — the spread is on point!