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The Outer Circle - Our Community Minister's Monthly Column
(Click here for information about mental health issues and the Caring Congregation curriculum.)
Occupy Fremont Some of you attended a march and rally in Fremont on December 3, 2011 in solidarity with the Occupy Movement. It was organized by a group of local religious leaders in Fremont and focused on large banks. What motivated me to organize and participate in this was my conviction that many banks behaved in an immoral way: deliberately selling loans to people who couldn't afford it, knowing that the US government wouldn't have any choice other than to bail them out; then, when they received their bailouts, they foreclosed on many of these loans. I don't think this is acceptable in our society; it might be legal, but it is immoral and has left our society weaker. During the march, we stopped at four banks and talked about their record with respect to loans, bail out, executive compensation, and foreclosures. Then we proceeded to the Fremont Hall of Justice and had a rally. We were pleased that we had good publicity in newspapers, radio and TV with write-ups that were quite positive. I feel as a religious leader that it is one of my responsibilities to try and change things in our society that need to change to make this a better society, and this is one way that I've chosen to do this. I'd like to encourage you as members of a religious organization to think what you could be in changing those things that must be changed. I hadn't participated in organizing a community event of this nature before, and I learned a lot. We will be joining forces with some other people also interested in the Occupy Movement in Fremont, and there will be more events to happen. Please come and check them out, and help make them happen, if that is your wont. We are coming to be seen as people who make a difference in Fremont, and this is one of our vehicles. In faith, Barbara Back to Top
Last updated 1-20-2012
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