Statements
The Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee holds many events, participates in many initiatives, and takes various actions throughout the year.
The statements are often in response to hate and/or violence. You can find many on the pull down menu with our most recent below:
STATEMENT ON IMMIGRATION, ASYLUM, AND THE RIGHT TO PEACEABLY ASSEMBLE (January 22, 2026)
It is the mission of the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee to build relationships among people of faith to promote greater understanding, dignity, and respect, and to advocate for the inclusion and acceptance of all.[i] Our diverse faith traditions teach us to welcome our brothers and sisters with love and compassion regardless of their place of birth,[ii] and we stand together to “preserv[e] the dignity of every person and the solidarity of the human community.”.[iii]
We consider the exploitation of human beings, the separation of families, and the use of violence and intimidation, to offend the human dignity not only of the oppressed but the oppressor. Apart from the Native Americans, all racial and ethnic groups are immigrants to the United States. Waves of people arrived at different times – some willingly, some unwillingly - from far and varied backgrounds to forge a unique experiment. Some have been oppressed, while others have been favored. The struggle continues to the present day as race, ethnicity, religion, and immigration remain topics of deep passion in our society. However, during this time of deep disagreement, we call for civility and mutual respect.
We also call for our society to respect the values upon which it was founded, whether from our individual religious traditions or the guiding documents of this country. The rights of all people, including neighbors, immigrants and asylum-seekers, to humanitarian treatment is explicit in our national foundation, and our international treaty obligations. In a soaring statement that sums up our aspirations even as we still struggle towards its fulfillment, The Declaration of Independence states that all human beings are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The United States is also a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which in Article 14(1), provides, “Everyone has the right to seek and enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.” Further, the Constitution of the United States in its First Amendment guarantees our rights of freedom of speech and “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Every religious tradition holds some form of “The Golden Rule” in its teachings.[iv] Whether we are taught to say, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor” or to say, “Do to others as you would have them do to you” or to say, “Love for mankind what you love for yourself”, let us commit to treat each other with the dignity and civility that we would wish for ourselves.
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The Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee, founded in 1970, is an organization of 22 faith organizations in the Milwaukee area.
[i] https://www.interfaithconference.org/mission-statement
[ii] The Interfaith Conference held a webinar and collected statements from its members about how our faiths welcome the stranger. The webinar and the statements may be viewed here: https://www.interfaithconference.org/committee-for-interfaith-understanding Without any attempt to be complete, we also note the following scriptures. The Hebrew Bible tells us: "The strangers who sojourn with you shall be to you as the natives among you, and you shall love them as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt" (Leviticus 19:33-34). In the New Testament, Jesus tells us to welcome the stranger, for "what you do to the least of my brethren, you do unto me" (Matthew 25:40). The Qur'an tells us that we should "do good unto … the needy, and the neighbor from among your own people, and the neighbor who is a stranger…" (4:36). The Hindu Taitiriya Upanishad tells us: ''The guest is a representative of God" (1.11.2).
[iii] Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee’s Articles of Incorporation’s Restated Articles of Incorporation, Article II (1990).
[iv] Generally see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Rule The three statements that follow represent sayings (in order) from Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions. The Jewish statement is attributed to Rabbi Hillel the Elder and comes from the Babylonian Talmud, specifically the tractate Shabbat, page 31a. The Christian statement is attributed to Jesus in Matthew 7:12. The Muslim statement is attributed to Prophet Muhammad in the collections of his sayings in al-Tirmidhī and Ibn Mājah.
ICGM CONDEMNS ANTISEMITIC ATTACK AT BONDI BEACH (12/15/2025)
INTERFAITH CONFERENCE OF GREATER MILWAUKEE
CONDEMNS ANTISEMITIC ATTACK AT BONDI BEACH (12/15/2025)
The Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee unequivocally condemns the deadly attack against Jewish worshippers celebrating Chanukah that occurred yesterday on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. This horrendous antisemitic attack by two men, which has resulted in the deaths of at least 15 persons, including a Holocaust survivor, and wounded at least 27 others, is unacceptable: an event meant to celebrate faith should never be a target for terror or murder.
We are grateful to the first responders and in particular to the heroic bystander, who bravely wrestled a rifle from one of the attackers and was wounded in the process of saving countless lives. The Interfaith Conference prays for the victims, the injured, and for their families.
This tragic incident follows three other recent widely known acts of violent antisemitism in this country, two of which also occurred on or near Jewish holidays. On April 13, 2025, an assailant attempted to set fire to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence while he and his family were observing Passover. On May 21, 2025, two Israeli embassy staff members were killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. On June 1, 2025, on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, a man threw incendiary devices at a group of peaceful Jewish marchers in Boulder, Colorado, injuring many and murdering a Holocaust survivor.
Although yesterday’s attack did not take place in our country, nor did the other atrocities take place in our geographic area, we are aware of the effect such acts of terror, including those that appear to be tied to a Jewish holiday, can have on our local community. Our prayers, our support, and our commitment to continue to act in solidarity are with those in our local Jewish community as they continue to struggle with the immoral scourge of antisemitism.
The Interfaith Conference reaffirms our determination to speak out together against antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hate-fueled violence. Hate has no place in our communities. Let us recommit ourselves to building a society rooted in justice, compassion, and the shared human dignity that binds us all.
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Founded in 1970, the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee is a nonprofit organization of 22 member faiths and denominations, whose mission is to build relationships among people of faith to promote greater understanding, dignity, and respect, and to advocate for the inclusion and acceptance of all.
Its programs include:
- Dialoguing to build personal relationships
- Conducting public programming to counter hate and fear while fostering interfaith, intercultural, and interracial understanding, tolerance, and friendship
- Working together on hunger, unemployment, environmental challenges, and other social issues to create a better society for everyone
We stand with one another against hate, racism, and discrimination to promote a just community; and we serve together to strengthen our communities and build relationships across diverse faith traditions and racial, cultural, ethnic, and generational divides.
STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY AND CONDEMNING ANTISEMITISM (2025)
INTERFAITH CONFERENCE OF GREATER MILWAUKEE
STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY AND CONDEMNING ANTISEMITISM (2025)
The Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee is horrified by and unequivocally condemns the antisemitic terror attack that occurred on June 1, 2025, on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. A man identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman hurled “makeshift incendiary devices” at a group of peaceful walkers advocating for return of Israeli hostages in Gaza, injuring twelve persons, some severely, while stating afterward that he wanted to kill all Zionist people. He has been charged with a federal hate crime and 16 counts of attempted murder. The Interfaith Conference prays for the recovery of the victims and for their families.
This tragic incident follows two other recent widely known acts of violent antisemitism. On April 13, 2025, an assailant attempted to set fire to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence while he and his family were observing Passover. The suspect, Cody Allen Balmer, expressed hatred toward Governor Shapiro for his support of Israel and has been charged with terrorism and attempted murder.
And on May 21, 2025, two Israeli embassy staff members, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., by Elias Rodgriguez, who shouted after the attack that he did it for Gaza. He has been charged with murder and the act is being investigated by the FBI as targeted antisemitic violence.
We urge law enforcement to conduct a full and transparent investigation and to hold the perpetrators accountable. We also call on public officials, faith leaders, and civil society to unite against the rising tide of hate that continues to endanger communities across the country.
Although these atrocities have not taken place in our geographic area, we are aware of the effect such acts of terror can have on our local community. Our prayers, our support, and our commitment to continue to act in solidarity are with those in our local Jewish community as they continue to struggle with the immoral scourge of antisemitism.
Such acts of violence, hatred and bigotry have no place in our society. The Israel-Hamas war has elicited many strong feelings. Regardless of how anyone feels about the Israeli government, Hamas, Israelis or Palestinians, there is no justification - ever - for targeting Jewish individuals or communities. Holding Jewish Americans collectively responsible for the actions of a foreign state is both morally wrong and deeply dangerous. Such thinking echoes the very logic of bigotry and collective blame that has harmed countless innocent people throughout history.
We are blessed to live in a country where we have been granted the right to peaceably assemble, exercise free speech, and worship as we please, among other rights. Let us resolve to protect for others those same rights that we claim for ourselves.
The Interfaith Conference also reaffirms our determination to speak out together against antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hate-fueled violence. Hate has no place in our communities. Let us recommit ourselves to building a society rooted in justice, compassion, and the shared humanity that binds us all.
***
Founded in 1970, the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee is a nonprofit organization of 22 member faiths and denominations, whose mission is to build relationships among people of faith to promote greater understanding, dignity, and respect, and to advocate for the inclusion and acceptance of all.
Its programs include:
- Dialoguing to build personal relationships
- Conducting public programming to counter hate and fear while fostering interfaith, intercultural, and interracial understanding, tolerance, and friendship
- Working together on hunger, unemployment, environmental challenges, and other social issues to create a better society for everyone
We stand with one another against hate, racism, and discrimination to promote a just community; and we serve together to strengthen our communities and build relationships across diverse faith traditions and racial, cultural, ethnic, and generational divides.
Statement against Political Violence
The Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee condemns in the strongest possible terms the assassination attempt on former President Trump. We mourn for the lives that were lost and pray for the recovery of the former President and the other wounded, as well as for their families and loved ones. While this attempt did not occur here, we are aware of the upcoming Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, and we stand against political violence and with a particular additional prayer for peace during the Convention this week and beyond.
We call on our political leaders to publicly model unequivocal condemnation of all political violence in their words and actions, while pledging to hold all who would commit such violence accountable.
Founded in 1970, the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee is a nonprofit organization through which the regional leaders and adherents of 22 member faiths and denominations seek to counter misunderstanding, fear, anxiety and hate while fostering interfaith, intercultural, and interracial understanding, tolerance and friendships across county and city-suburban lines. We envision a strong, peaceful, and sustainable community where all are treated with justice, mutual respect, and dignity, and we stand with one another against hate, racism, and discrimination to promote a just community.
UPCOMING EVENTS
