May xx, 2021

Dear Senator Kyrsten Sinema and Senator Mark Kelly,

As faith leaders and faith-based advocates in the state of Arizona, we write to you today about the urgent need for the For the People Act (S.1) to become the law of the land. Our faith calls us to correct injustices, support the most vulnerable, nurture human potential, root out systemic racism, and protect the health and well-being of all members of society. A broken democracy has clear and detrimental impacts for how our nation can collectively answer that call.

After harmful rulings like Shelby and Citizens United, we have seen the disturbing trends of voter suppression and dark money flooding our elections. They undermine the integrity of our democracy and enable oppressive systems to grow stronger. Millions of Americans--especially in marginalized, Black and Brown communities--are being stripped of the right to vote and we exhort our leaders to quickly pass federal protections of the sacred right to vote.

The election fraud lies that have been dispelled time and again and that largely targeted communities of color are now being used in many states to justify new laws to make it harder for those same communities to vote. Moreover, the redistricting process set to begin later this year could set the stage for another decade of extreme partisanship, locking in power for those currently in power. The recent physical attack on the U.S. Capitol grew out of a deeper assault on democracy that demonstrates just how strong the currents of white supremacy run. Our democracy is in peril and the well-being of our people—especially in communities of color—hangs in the balance.

The For the People Act (S.1) includes reforms to protect voting rights, to address the outsized influence of money in politics, curb unethical practices by elected leaders, and to ensure fair representation in Congressional redistricting. S.1 is the bold, comprehensive bill we need because the problems in our democracy are deep, systemic, and wide-ranging. The scope and size of the bill reflects the myriad issues that need to be addressed, and the ability to restore faith in democracy cannot be done through piecemeal changes.

The voting and election reforms in S.1, written by the late Rep. John Lewis, would set federal baseline standards of access for every eligible voter, regardless of where they live. In light of the current attempts by many state legislatures to aggressively restrict access to the ballot after the 2020 election, failure to pass these federal reforms would be unconscionable.

Sadly, the Arizona state legislature is a leader in the recent onslaught of restrictive voting bills after an election with record voter turn-out. We are calling on you, our U.S. Senators, to protect your constituents from these blatant attempts to disenfranchise Arizona voters. We urge you to take up the mantle of leadership in the Senate for our sake and the sake of millions of Americans similarly at risk of being disenfranchised by a return to Jim Crow-era voting laws.

Cosponsoring S.1 is not sufficient in these dire circumstances. We need leaders with the moral courage to take bold action in passing these reforms. Our democracy is too precious for S.1 to be blocked by procedural hurdles in the Senate. For people of faith this is not a matter of right versus left, but of right versus wrong.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

Minister Baiyina Abdas-Salaam Vicky Campo JGM Enternational Prayer Life Institute Owner, Justice Java With A Cause Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona

Reverend Brady Abel Sister Bridget Chapman Senior Pastor, United Church of Sun City Chandler, Arizona Sun City, Arizona Eddie Chavez Pastor James Alexander Arizona Jews for Justice Church of the Palms Phoenix, Arizona Sun City, Arizona Rabbi Helen Cohn Mustafa Bahar Congregation M'kor Hayim Branch Director, Sema Foundation Tucson, Arizona Chandler, Arizona Meller Cheatham Pastor Al Beasley Phoenix, Arizona Disciples of Christ Scottsdale, Arizona LaTrisha Clark Phoenix, Arizona Reverend Tim Beatty First New Life Missionary Baptist Church Deacon Joan Crawford Phoenix, Arizona Guardian Angels Ecumenical Catholic Communion Reverend Frank Bergen Tempe, Arizona Episcopal Church of St. Matthew Tucson, Arizona Sister Elizabeth Cummins Glendale, Arizona Lay Member Gail Bird Partner, Arizona Faith Network, Reverend Steven L. Davis Social Justice Commission Scottsdale, Arizona Mesa, Arizona Reverend Glenn Dennard Sister Mary Richardine Blue, RSM Pastor, Family of Faith Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona

Reverend Teresa Blythe Reverend Jay Deskins BlytheSpirit LLC Tucson, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona Pastor Liz DeWeese Sister Zoe Brenner First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament Mesa, Arizona Saint Michaels, Arizona Reverend Kelley Dick Reverend Sandra Britton Tucson, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona Reverend Doctor Barbara Doerrer-Peacock Reverend Michael Bush Associate Conference MInister, Casas Adobes Congregational UCC Southwest Conference UCC Tucson, Arizona Tempe, Arizona

Reverend Doctor Kristina Campbell Reverend Richard Doerrer-Peacock United Church of Christ Tempe, Arizona Tempe, Arizona

Celebrant Luke Douglas Reverend Kenneth Heintzelman Humanist Society of Greater Phoenix Shadow Rock UCC Mesa, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona

Reverend Derrick Elliott Elice Higginbotham Pastor, Desert Heritage Church Legacy Pastor, First Congregational United Church Mesa, Arizona of Christ Tempe Guadalupe, Arizona Priest Anne Ellsworth The Episcopal Diocese of Arizona Geraldine Hills Tempe, Arizona Founder/President, Arizonans for Gun Safety Phoenix, Arizona Seminarian Zade Evans Resident Seminarian, Foothills Christian Church Reverend Robert R. Howard Phoenix, Arizona Pastor, Community Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Imam Didmar Faja Tempe, Arizona Imam of United Islamic Center of Arizona Glendale, Arizona Reverend Jayne Hubbard Pastor, Black Mountain United Church of Christ Billie Fidlin Scottsdale, Arizona Director of Outreach & Justice DSC UMC, Desert Southwest Conference UMC Bishop Deborah Hutterer Phoenix, Arizona Bishop, Grand Canyon Synod, ELCA Phoenix, Arizona Sister Catherine France Daughters of Charity Reverend Doctor Brooke Isingoma Tuba City, Arizona St. Matthew UMC Mesa, Arizona Reverend Rock Fremont Jr. Shepherd of the Hills UCC Ruth Jackson Phoenix, Arizona Peoria, Arizona

Janine Gelsinger Teresa Jackson Executive Director, Phoenix, Arizona Unitarian Universalist Justice Arizona Phoenix, Arizona Reverend Wendy Johnson Executive Director Justa Center Joe Goldblatt Phoenix, Arizona Tempe, Arizona Pastor Jane Jones Bridgette Grandberry First Congregational Church, UCC Tempe, Arizona Flagstaff, Arizona

Kenneth Griffen Lee, Jr. Jerry Judie Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona

Doctor Yvonne Harrison Sister Joneen Keuler Phoenix, Arizona School Sisters of St. Francis Tucson, Arizona Reverend Jay Hartley Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Arizona Tucson, Arizona

Sat Bir Kaur Khalsa Monica Mims Culture of Peace Alliance (COPA) Mesa, Arizona and Tucson Sikh Society Tucson, Arizona Eula Miniefield Phoenix, Arizona Reverend Rebekah Krevens Senior Minister, Foothills Christian Church Susan Morris Glendale, Arizona Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix Phoenix, Arizona Doctor Phillip Ladd Sun City, Arizona Solveig Muus Director, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona Sister Christi Ann Laudolff (LAMA) Bisbee, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona

Reverend Doctor Eric Ledermann Pastor Kega Nasios Pastor, University Presbyterian Church Ktizo UCC Church Tempe, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona

Candyce Lindsay Christopher Owens Tempe, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona

Reverend Michael Lonergan Dan Peitzmeyer Pastor, Church Of the Painted Hills UCC Executive Director, Death Penalty Alternatives for Tucson, Arizona Arizona Phoenix, Arizona Reverend Doctor William Lyons Conference Minister, Southwest Conference Virginia Pierce of the United Church of Christ Golden Valley, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona Doris Elaine Pope Reverend Karen MacDonald Chair, Theological Dialogue Commission Creation Care Coordinator, Rincon Arizona Faith Network Congregational United Church of Christ Mesa, Arizona Tucson, Arizona Kevin Prahar Johnny Martin M.Div. Seminary Student & Intern, Desert Dove Phoenix, Arizona Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Tucson, Arizona Reverend Thomas Martinez Desert Palm Church Penita Pratcher Tempe, Arizona Glendale, Arizona

Sister Margaret McBride Reverend Jeff Procter-Murphy VP Mission Intergration Dayspring United Methodist Church Phoenix, Arizona Tempe, Arizona

Minister Jim Meadows Reverend Carolyn Quinn Church of the Beatitudes Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona Reverend Dave Ragan Pastor Vernon Meyer United Church of Christ Sun Lakes United Church of Christ Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona

Reverend Pedro Ramos Goycolea Reverend Kimberly Scott Comunidad Limen Christian Church CrossRoads United Methodist Church Tucson, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona

Minister Toni Randolph Linda Sexton Buckeye, Arizona Glendale, Arizona

Sister Angela Revels Reverend Katie Sexton-Wood Phoenix, Arizona Executive Director, Arizona Faith Network Glendale, Arizona Reverend Carol Reynolds Pastor, Scottsdale Congregational UCC Rabbi Shapiro Scottsdale, Arizona Temple Emanuel Tempe, Arizona Reverend Clinton Reynolds Church of the Palms United Church of Christ Reverend Doctor Gloria Smith Sun City, Arizona Minister, Encanto Community UCC Phoenix, Arizona Reverend Kristin Rice Phoenix, Arizona Sister Mary Ann Spanjers,OSF San Miguel High School Pastor Gerald Richard Tucson, Arizona Prince Chapel AME Church Tucson, Arizona Brother Gerrit Steenblik Phoenix, Arizona Karen Richter Spiritual Director/Religious Educator, Doctor Warren H. Stewart, Sr. Shadow Rock United Church of Christ Pastor, First Institutional Baptist Church Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona

Lay Person Marilyn Riggs Reverend Patrice Taylot Arizona Faith Network Deacon, All Saints' Episcopal Church Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona

Reverend Susan Ringler Reverend Doctor Tricia Tedrow Ecumenical Catholic Communion Community Presbyterian Church Tempe, Arizona Payson, Arizona

Reverend Redeem Robinson Pastor George Terry Senior Pastor/Ebenezer Church PHX Pastor, Oro Valley United Church of Christ Phoenix, Arizona Oro Valley, Arizona

Paul Rockower Reverend Doctor Benjamin Thomas, Sr. Executive Director, Jewish Community Relations Pastor, Tanner Chapel AME Church Council Phoenix, Arizona Scottsdale, Arizona Sarah Tyree Reverend Stuart Salvatierra State Senate Candidate Assoc. Pastor, St. Mark's United Methodist Church Surprise, Arizona Tucson, Arizona Reverend Susan Valiquette Doctor Jannah Scott First Church UCC African American Christian Clergy Coalition Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona

Lay Person Jo Vredenburg Ricky Wilson AFN and Desert Palm UCC, Tempe Goodyear, Arizona Mesa, Arizona Reverend Seth Wispelwey Abe Wagen PE Rincon Congregational United Church of Christ Phoenix Holocaust Association Tucson, Arizona Scottsdale, Arizona Ruth Wootten Sandra Weed Social Worker (retired) Phoenix, Arizona Tempe, Arizona

Jayne White Reverend Brian Wright Phoenix, Arizona Pastor, The Citadel of Praise Christian Church Buckeye, Arizona Pastor Paul Whitlock The Church of the Palms Reverend Jenny Wynn Sun City, Arizona First Christian Church Scottsdale, Arizona