A Faith-Based Call to Prepare for What Comes Next

Opinion

by

Baptist News Global | July 1, 2025

The recent tensions in Los Angeles — sparked by ICE raids, the arrest of SEIU California President David Huerta, and the unilateral deployment of federal troops by President Trump — were not an isolated event. They were a warning shot. They exposed how quickly political overreach can inflame civil unrest and bypass democratic norms.

While the streets of LA may have quieted, the moral and civic questions remain. What is the role of faith leaders in such moments? How do we protect both the right to protest and the sacredness of human life? And most urgently: How do we prepare for the next flashpoint?

The president’s decision to federalize the California National Guard without coordination with Gov. Gavin Newsom sets a dangerous precedent. When federal force replaces state partnership, and military presence replaces civic dialogue, our democracy is at risk.

Los Angeles is not alone. In this election season, similar tensions could surface in Atlanta, Phoenix, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Miami and beyond. Faith leaders must see this not just as an urban crisis but as a national covenant moment.

We’ve seen the consequences before:

  • Little Rock (1957) — Desegregation delayed by divided leadership
  • Detroit (1967) — Unrest escalated by heavy-handed federal presence
  • Kent State (1970) — Four students killed during peaceful protests

In each case, government response shaped not just the immediate outcome but the national conscience. The question now: What story will this generation tell?

We must move from reaction to readiness. Faith leaders should:

  • Affirm protest as sacred democratic expression
  • Offer nonviolence training through congregations and community centers
  • Develop street chaplaincy teams for protest accompaniment and de-escalation
  • Organize legal aid support and know-your-rights clinics
  • Collaborate with local officials to ensure peaceful protest logistics

This is not about political sides. It is about spiritual courage and civic stewardship.

Hold the moral high ground. The movement is righteous. But methods matter:

  • Resist destruction
  • Reject provocation
  • Lead with courage, not fear
  • Target unjust systems, not people
  • Practice radical love in the face of hate

You are not alone. You are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who have walked this path before.

We call on faith-based institutions to adopt a shared framework:

  • Train 100,000 faith leaders in nonviolence by November.
  • Form city-based interfaith protest response teams.
  • Create communication bridges between protest organizers and local law enforcement.
  • Prepare sanctuaries and aid stations for care, safety and refuge.
  • Host unity events the day after major protests to counter media narratives of chaos with stories of discipline, dignity and peace.

We recognize the government’s role in public safety. But deploying troops without state or local coordination is not protection — it is provocation. We urge the president: Lead through wisdom, not intimidation. Collaborate up, don’t crack down.

This is not just about Los Angeles. It’s about who we are as a nation. If we abandon nonviolence, we forfeit the moral high ground. If we allow division to dictate our response, we risk chaos.

Let pastors, imams, rabbis, organizers and governors forge a covenant of restraint, unity and purpose.

Let our discipline be our difference. Let our unity be our testimony. Let our readiness be our witness.

The world is watching. May we meet this moment not with fear, but with faith.

Stuart C. Lord is a civic leader, CEO of Y Solve Foundry and Delta Developmental, and founder of the Declaration of Respect. He lives in Boulder, Colo., and is a longtime advocate for nonviolence, interfaith collaboration and ethical leadership.