Faith + Politics
“New York is home to one of the largest Muslim communities in the country,” said state Attorney General (AG) Letitia James when announcing her office’s first-ever Director of Muslim Affairs. The position is currently held by Long Island local Mohammad Awais, who is responsible for ensuring “Muslim New Yorkers’ voices are heard, their needs are met, and their rights are protected.” Awais’ onboarding marks an expansion in the AG’s Intergovernmental Affairs initiatives, which aim to connect the state’s diverse communities to various resources.
President Trump wasted no time tackling one of the hot button topics that fueled his campaign—mass deportation. On Tuesday, the 47th Commander-in-Chief rolled out a reversal of policies that prohibited both Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from arresting migrants in “sensitive locations.” With such limitations lifted, the immigration law enforcement agencies can make arrests in houses of worship and schools.
Recognized as an ethnic minority group in China, a number of Hui Muslims now call Queens home. Having fled their homeland following the country’s crackdown on Islam and the threat of being forced into re-education camps, this community faces an uncertain future in the United States amid President Trump’s promise of mass deportations.
Antisemitic Threats
In Australia, police are investigating the latest in a string of antisemitic hate crimes across two of the country's major cities. Tuesday’s target, a childcare center in Sydney (located near a Jewish school and synagogue) was torched and graffitied. South Wales Premier Chris Minns called similar incidents “disgusting” and a special task force is in place to investigate the chain of events threatening the area’s Jewish community.
Harvard University has reached a settlement in legal disputes regarding its response to the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023. Several Jewish groups claimed that Harvard did not appropriately address antisemitism on its campus. In response, the university has adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism and issued a statement on its website.
Properties with Purpose
In the fight for affordable housing, Colorado Governor Jared Polis has struck a blow by imploring lawmakers in the Centennial state to make it easier for social good-centered groups to build homes on their land.
With a project already underway for a church in Colorado Springs, Polis “looks forward to seeing a bill introduced that will empower organizations like schools and faith-based organizations who want to utilize land they own to build housing to support their workers and the broader community.”
Hope Restorations in North Carolina offers support to people struggling with addiction. The ministry, founded in 2013, was a pastor’s response to the death of his son. How did he do it? With $8,000, the purchase of a boarded up home (once the site of drug deals, according to local residents), some good ole fashioned elbow grease, and a belief in second chances.
If you enjoy these weekly updates, please consider becoming a Bricks and Mortals member or making a contribution so we can continue to provide this and resources like it. Sign up to join our mailing list and get these every week!
