Los Angeles-area faith leaders joined Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) for a Zoom town hall. Moderated by Najuma Smith-Pollard, program manager of the USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement, the interfaith leaders included Rev. Mike Kinman from Pasadena’s All Saints Church, Rabbi Sharon Brous from IKAR, and Salam Al-Marayati from the Muslim Public Affairs Council. Together, the faith leaders reflected on the “quadruple-threat crisis” impacting Americans today: COVID-19, an economic meltdown, racial inequality, and an upcoming presidential election.
The Jewish Journal covered the town hall, summarizing the conversation’s focus on enacting reforms that tackle police misconduct and racism during a “crisis upon a crisis upon a crisis.” The article quoted Smith-Pollard on the significance of this time of crises:
Smith-Pollard noted that people are intimating that “this time is different. The energy is different. This particular movement has been coined ‘the largest civil rights movement in history.’ ”
Read the full article here.
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Rev. Najuma Smith is Assistant Director of Community and Public Engagement with the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture.
