As we entered the classroom, a group of girls performed a lively traditional Palestinian dance for us, with a colorful mural as the backdrop. The dance class is sponsored by the Culture and Free Thought Association (CFTA), which receives support from Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). Along with dance, CFTA offers many other activities for youth…
Mass shootings are regularly highlighted in the media, and they prompt important conversations regarding U.S. gun policy and public safety. However, The American public fails to acknowledge that the majority of gun deaths and injuries do not stem from mass shootings but are a result of homicides, suicides and accidents. It is crucial to pursue policies that…
Leading us in right paths: U.S.-Nigeria policy The U.S. response to Nigeria, as it faces multi-layered violent conflicts and armed actors threatening the nation’s unity, has primarily been to provide military assistance. This approach is counterproductive and has spawned additional violence. This issue of the Washington Memo provides an overview of U.S.-Nigeria policy and suggests strategies to…
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. –Matthew 6:21 Matthew 6:21 is often cited as a guide for individual spending habits, but it can also be an important principle to consider for federal budgets. The U.S. government spends roughly $18 billion per year on immigration enforcement—more than all other federal law enforcement…
Announcing our high school essay contest We are now accepting submissions for the annual high school essay contest! This year’s topics include: Gun violence Immigration North Korea Anabaptist youth who are of high school age within the U.S. and Puerto Rico are eligible to enter and win up to $750! The deadline for submitting essays…
Read in Spanish Hundreds of children remain separated Weeks after a judge ordered almost 2,700 children reunited with their parents, more than 500 remain separated—most because a parent was deported without them. It will likely be very difficult to find these parents. More than 150 parents allegedly waived their rights to be reunified but may have been coerced. A…
Stories of immigrant families separated at the border caught the public’s attention last month. The reports were certainly appalling: children crying after being forcibly taken from a parent, parents unable to locate children, inconsolable children forcibly drugged. Yet, as horrific as these stories are, it is important to remember that immigrant families have been forcibly, traumatically and unnecessarily separated by…
MCC Washington Memo 