Interfaith Prayer Vigil Unites Communities Against Mayor’s Suspension of Housing Rights for Asylum Seekers

People of different faiths gathered for a prayer vigil for asylum seekers.

They showed a united front, calling on Mayor Eric Adams to stop his efforts to suspend the city’s legal right to housing.

That prayer vigil took place at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine.

Those gathered announced unity in the commitment to help all asylum seekers.

The cathedral’s Christian leaders were joined by leaders of other faiths and immigrant advocates.

They say everyone must share the responsibility of helping asylum seekers arriving in New York.

During the vigil they spoke about the mayor’s efforts to suspend the city’s legal right to housing.

For months, Adams has been trying to change the rule as the city struggles to find space for the thousands of immigrants who continue to arrive.

Among the religions represented at the interfaith meeting were Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist leaders.

They all read texts from their own religions, sending the message that they are against the mayor’s efforts. They say it will force immigrants to sleep on the streets. The group says everyone in the city deserves the right to shelter.

“We all have the same principle of loving our neighbor, serving our neighbor, giving them a home, giving them food, protecting the foreigner or giving food to the foreigner in our places, in our cities. And there are many cities that do not have the rights that New York has” said Yamily Bass-Choate, representative of Global Missions, Episcopal Diocese of New York.

Now advocates are asking New Yorkers to sign a petition to the mayor asking him to preserve the right to housing.

2023-10-26 16:46:00
#Religious #leaders #unite #asylum #seekers