To: Governor Matt Bevin

Stop Matt Bevin, governor-elect, from refusing Syrian refugees

Matt Bevin, it goes against my own Christian values and against humanitarian values to refuse a single refugee coming to the Commonwealth based on his passport or nationality. If we selectively like some refugees but oppose others, based on their nationality or religion, we directly support those who attempt to polarize Christians vs. Muslims and try to plant fear into our hearts. Helping my neighbor, Syrian or Cuban or Iraqi or American, is what my religion calls me to do (and I follow this calling).

Why is this important?

Based on today's statement by Governor-elect Bevin, he wants to follow other governors in refusing certain refugees. I have started to work with a local refugee organization and find it very difficult to reason with him. Instead of publicly (likely without any legal basis) refusing refugees, we send the wrong signal to those in need of our help.