Update: In May the Israeli High Court of Justice turned down a request for a judicial order to halt the demolition of the West Bank village of Susiya. Up to 100 homes are under threat for demolition at any time by the civil administrations of Judae and Samaria. The high court judge, Noam Sohlberg, who refused the request for the judicial order is himself a resident of an illegal West Bank settlement. The residents of Susiya hold deeds to the land going back to the Ottoman era, but Israeli authorities say the residents did not have permits to build their current structures.

AFSC's Dominque Stevenson discusses connections between police violence, racism, and imprisonment.

Dominque Demetrea Stevenson is currently the director of the American Friends Service Committee – Friend of a Friend program in Baltimore, Maryland. She coordinates prisoner run mentoring projects in several Maryland prisons, and one federal institution. The program, A Friend of a Friend, helps foster healing, and connects young men with prison mentors who help them develop the skills necessary to navigate violent situations, and prepare for a successful return to their communities. Ms.

Note: Doug Bennett used to be a member of Indiana Yearly Meeting of Friends, which recently split over views of same-sex marriage.  He is now a member of the New Association of Friends, a yearly meeting that is comprised of welcoming congregations (those that welcome all people and affirm LGBTQ rights and same-sex marriage). I asked him for his thoughts on the new "Religious Freedom Restoration Act" (RFRA) that was recently passed in Indiana and the response. Here are his thoughts. - Lucy

Note: AFSC published Letter from Birmingham City Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr. in May, 1963. King wrote the letter on April 16, 1963 in response to an open, published letter from white clergy asking him to slow down, reproaching him on his methods and actions.

Victoria Greene has led support groups for families who have experienced homicide for the last eight years. She has developed programs for and led workshops with young people in high school about grief and trauma. She is the founding director of the EMIR Healing Center. She is a member of Green Street Friends Meeting of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting.

UPDATE: Oscar was deported by Immigration & Customs Enforcement back to El Salvador

Hello Friends,

Thank you to everyone who has written letters to help keep Oscar in the United States. Thank you for raising your voices for justice.  Unfortunately, we learned today that Oscar was deported back to El Salvador. Here is a statement from his immigration lawyers: