Dear Siblings:
 
We are writing to you today to let you know that we, as Christians, stand with you in your request for a safer work environment. Meatpacking plants have been identified as among the top “hotspots” for the spread of COVID-19 in the United States. As of this writing, nearly 5,000 workers in slaughterhouses across the United States have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and at least 20 workers have died. We grieve this tragic and avoidable loss of life.

As Christians, we support the dignity of every person, as we are all made in the image of God. In this Easter season, as we remember Christ’s victory over death, we are heartbroken and profoundly disappointed by the failure of our government and major corporations to offer basic protection for your lives, and the lives of your loved ones.  
 
Even without the threat of COVID-19, industrial slaughterhouses are among the most dangerous places to work in the United States. We know that every day you go to work, you endure long hours in physically as well as psychologically demanding environments, and you risk injuries from fumes, blades, and heavy machinery. Too many workers lack access to sufficient paid sick leave, health care, and unemployment benefits. Now, as we face the threat of COVID-19, too many workers are denied access to testing for the disease, or forced to pay for testing out of their own pockets. In some states, workers who choose not to return to work are ineligible for unemployment insurance.
 
People living in the United States eat, on average, 273 pounds of meat and poultry each year, per person. To meet that demand, the lines at meatpacking plants move quickly, which contributes to hazardous working conditions.
 
Our faith tells us that we are to love God, and to love our neighbor. In Isaiah 58, we read that we must take action to protect and care for workers. In that spirit, we wish to show God’s love by joining the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) to commit to Meatless May Mondays, a partial boycott to bring awareness to the plight of workers. And we will reduce our meat consumption in general, as long as these dangerous conditions persist. We will slow our consumption of meat so that the lines may also be slowed, so that workers can practice social distancing, and so that they are better able to avoid physical injury. Some may think of it as a fast “to loose the bonds of injustice.”
 
We pray that you and your families are safe. We pray that the hearts of the people in power will be moved to act mercifully. And we commit to taking this small action as we join our voices with yours to demand justice.
 
In Christ’s peace,
*Affiliations and Organizations listed for identification purposes only and do not indicate endorsement

Querides Hermanes:

Le escribimos para decirles que nosotros, como Cristianos, apoyamos su solicitaciones de un ambiente de trabajo más limpio y seguro. Las empacadoras de carne se han identificado como uno de los principales lugares, “puntos críticos" para la propagación de COVID-19 en los Estados Unidos. Al momento de escribir este artículo, casi 5,000 trabajadores en mataderos en todo Estados Unidos han sido diagnosticados con COVID-19, y al menos 20 trabajadores han sido muertos. Lamentamos estas pierdas trágicas y evitables.

Como Cristianos, apoyamos la dignidad de todes les personas, porque todes somos creado a imagen de Dios. En esta época de Pascua, cuando nos acordamos de la victoria de Cristo sobre la muerte, estamos de corazon partidos y profundamente decepcionados con el fracaso del gobierno y gran corporaciones de ofréceles protecciones básicas por sus vidas y las vidas de sus queridos familiares.

Mismo  sin la amenaza del virus, la mataderos industriales son uno de los lugares más peligrosos para trabajar en los Estados Unidos. Sabemos que todos los días cuando vosotros van al trabajo, laboran duro físicamente en ambientes psicológicamente exigentes, corriendo riesgos de sufrir lesiones de máquinas pesadas y respirando humos. Muchos trabajadores no tienen acceso a beneficio de desempleo, servicios de salud, o sus dias de enfermedad remunerados. Ahora con la amenaza del virus, muchos trabajadores tienen acceso denegado al test o son forzados a pagar por test con su propio dinero. En algunos de los estados, trabajadores que escogen no regresar al trabajo son inelegible para recibir beneficios de desempleo.

Personas viviendo en los Estados Unidos comen, en media, 273 libras de carne y pollo por ano, por persona. Para poder satisfacer esa demanda, los mataderos y empacadoras tienen que trabajar rápidamente, contribuyendo a condiciones peligrosas al trabajador.

Nuestra fe nos enseña que debemos amar a Dios y al próximo. En el profeta Isaías 58, leemos que necesitamos agir para proteger trabajadores. En este espíritu, deseamos demostrar el amor de Dios a vosotros y nos juntamos a la Liga de Los Ciudadanos Latinoamericanos Unidos (LULAC) en el mes de Mayo en el boicot parcial de carne en los Lunes durante todo el mes. Vamos reducir nuestro consumo de carne mientras persistan estas condiciones peligrosas. Bajaremos nuestro consumo de carne para que los matadores y las empacadoras pueden trabajar más despacio, con distanciamiento social, les permitindo que eviten lesiones físicas. Podemos pensar en esto como un ayuno para “soltar las cargas de opresión.”

Oramos para que usted y sus familias estén bien y con salud. Oramos para que los corazones de la gente en poder se muevan para agir piadosamente. Y nos comprometemos a tomar esta pequeña acción al unir nuestras voces con las suyas para exigir justicia.

La Paz de Cristo,
*Afiliaciones y organizaciones enumeradas solo con fines de identificación y no indican aprobación
 
Ms. Shantha Ready Alonso
Creation Justice Ministries

Sarah Withrow King
CreatureKind

Rev. Dr. Christopher Carter
The United Methodist Church & University of San Diego

Dr. Matthew Halteman
Calvin University, Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics

Professor David Clough
University of Chester, UK

Ms. Kristyn Komarnicki
Evangelicals for Social Action

Rev. Carlos L. Malave
Christian Churches Together

Dr. Ronald J. Sider
Distinguished Professor emeritus of Theology, Holistic Ministry and Public Policy, Palmer Seminary at Eastern University

Rev. Don Ng
American Baptist Churches, USA President, 2013-15

Rev. Jeania Ree Moore
The United Methodist Church - General Board of Church and Society

Mr. Peter Sergienko
St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church

Rev. Lauren Ng
American Baptist Home Mission Societies

Rev. Michael Mata
Los Angeles First Church of the Nazarene

Deacon Sergei Kapral
Holy Resurrection Cathedral

Rev. Dr. Brian McLaren
Vote Common Good

Rev. abby mohaupt
GreenFaith

Kathy Khang
board vice-chair, Evangelicals for Social Action

Bishop Efrain Pineda
Congreso RED

Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra
Fuller Theological Seminary

Rev. Whittney Ijanaten
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Rev. Michael Mata
Los Angeles First Church of the Nazarene

Michelle Ferrigno Warren
Advocacy & Strategic Engagement Director, Christian Community Development Association

Rev. Dr. Gabriel Salguero
National Latino Evangelical Coalition

Rev. Sandra Maria Van Opstal
Founding Director, Chasing Justice

Latasha Morrison
Founder and President of Be the Bridge

Bishop Jose Garcia
Church of God of Prophecy

Dr. Robert Chao Romero
UCLA

Rev. Dr. Betty Holley
Director of the Master of Divinity Degree Program at Payne Theological Seminary, OH

Lisa Sharon Harper
Founder and President, Freedom Road, LLC

Andrea Smith
Evangelicals 4 Justice

Marlena Graves
Writer and Speaker

OFS Akisha Townsend Eaton

Nikki Toyama-Szeto
Executive Director, Evangelicals for Social Action

Mimi Haddad
President, CBE International

Al Tizon
Affiliate Associate Professor of Missional and Global Leadership, North Park Theological Seminary

Dr. Elaine Nogueira-Godsey
Methodist Theological School in Ohio

Bishop Dr. Jesus Yañez
Midwest Rocky Mt. Church of God of Prophecy

Rev. Aline Silva
CreatureKind

Kyle Meyaard-Schaap
National Organizer and Spokesperson, Young Evangelicals for Climate Action