Our nation is in the grip of deep unrest; we are struggling with the evil of racism and a host of other challenges. At this difficult time, why are public gatherings allowed, in often disorderly, crowded settings, and yet community worship, which can be orderly and with social distancing, banned? For many, prayer is just as essential, if not more so, to bring about a solution. We need to once again be able to publicly, as a community, present ourselves to the true Healer as the ultimate response to the evils plaguing our nation.

Religious communities have historically played a role of healing and unity in times of hurt and division, and have contributed to racial reconciliation. In this time of civic pain, therefore, it is unthinkable that we not have public access to our places of worship. As you have trusted your citizens to make prudent judgment calls, in this time of pandemic, to travel to mass gatherings to protest, and then return to their neighborhoods, so now recognize and uphold a similar trust in our ability to responsibly gather in our Churches, Mosques, Synagogues, Temples or other houses of worship. Our religious facilities have well-considered and safe measures in place to resume public worship safely and responsibly: we have a deep need and right to do so.

Therefore, for the good of our community, and as a way to respond to the deep pain and hurt in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, we respectfully ask each of you, our County Executives, to modify your orders immediately, and open our Religious Facilities.