RFUSA’s Co-Director’s Remarks at NYPD Interfaith Response Press Conference

Religious Freedom USA’s Co-Director Frank Fredericks represented RFUSA at a press conference of religious leaders speaking out against the NYPD’s practice of surveillance on Muslims.  Frank shared the  following:

I am not eager to shame the NYPD.  In fact, it pains me greatly to do so.  When we at Religious Freedom USA came together to support Park51 at the Liberty Walk on Sept 11, 2010, I met with many of New York’s finest, including survivors and familymembers of 9/11.  The NYPD Office of Community Affairs was not only helpful in maintaining a safe environment, but they went beyond the call of duty, always with a smile.

That’s why when I heard of the monitoring of Muslims across and beyond New York City, I was both shocked and dismayed.  These actions are more than just illegal.  They are both horribly unethical and utterly ineffective.  It is unethical to treat an entire religious community as possible perpetrators because of the way they pray.  This is America, and I know we’re better than that.  This is ineffective because any counter-terrorism specialist will tell you, Muslim Americans are a crucial asset in countering extremism.  Islam isn’t the problem, but it can be part of the solution.

I believe that the NYPD acted in fear, not malice.  Like many Americans caught in the throes of Islamophobia, they are afraid.  This fear has led some of our fellow Americans to attack mosques and mistreat Muslims.

As an evangelical Christian, I also reflect on what the Bible says about fear.  Fear brings out the worst in mankind.  It can inspire us to punish the innocent and permit us to justify injustice.

But I know that fear is not of God.  2 Timothy 2:10 Tells us: “For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”  Notice those last three.  Power, Love, Self-Discipline.  NYPD has the power, and I don’t doubt their love for this city.  But do they have self-discipline?  Not only is it necessary, but it’s required by law.

The NYPD is not evil. There are good policies and bad policies, just and unjust, and most importantly, legal and illegal.  While I know some of my friends in faith here today are calling for Commissioner Kelly to step down from his position.  I would like to ask him to do the opposite.  

Commissioner Kelly, Step up!  Step up to religious freedom, both in writ and in practice.  Step up to the standards established in NYPD Order 11 banning racial profiling.  Step Up your strategy of countering extremism with methods that actual make New Yorkers safer.  Step up to the religious leaders who reached out to you with open arms, only to be met with scrutinizing eyes.

Step up your game Commissioner Kelly!  

History has never been kind to those who fixated on fear, and acted in bigotry but called it good policy.  We call on you to do the right thing Commissioner Kelly, which starts with ending these unjust policies, and ends with building institutional transparency, leading to better policing.