What a week it’s been for our nation’s judiciary. The Supreme Court issued the last of its decisions for the term, with several crushingly disappointing results. In addition, Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement, opening the door for Donald Trump to push the Court further to the right. This week on State of Belief, Interfaith Alliance’s radio show and podcast, we will grapple with the consequences of this week’s developments.
On Tuesday, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote, “Based on the evidence in the record, a reasonable observer would conclude that the Proclamation was motivated by anti-Muslim animus.” Her dissent was widely seen as a sharp rebuke to the court’s 5-4 decision upholding the travel ban. Despite numerous past Trump statements to the contrary, the majority claimed that the ban was not discriminatory. David Cole, National Legal Director for the American Civil Liberties Union, will join host Rev. Welton Gaddy to discuss the decision, Sotomayor’s dissent and what happens next. Then Welton will speak with Rev. Dr. Katharine Henderson, president of Auburn Seminary, about her call on people of all faiths to join together to oppose the ban and the bigotry behind it.
As the country continues to come to grips with the separation of families at the southern border and the harm caused to innocent children by our government, we will consider how we might construct an effective infrastructure for incorporating asylum-seekers and refugees. Mikdash, the Jewish Sanctuary Movement, seeks to create safe spaces for the most vulnerable among us. The Mikdash provide shelter, legal and financial assistance, and other resources to those facing deportation. Rabbi Salem Pearce of T’ruah, the Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, will join Welton to discuss this initiative.
