Today, UniteBoston is featuring a local issue that is bringing together churches and community members throughout East Boston. Last Saturday’s gathering was featured on Channel 5 and in the Boston Herald, with hundreds in attendance. We encourage Christians throughout the city to join this movement through prayer and, if you’re a resident of East Boston or Revere, by signing the petition.
For the first time in living memory, East Boston ministers — representing various faith traditions and ethnic heritages — have gathered as one around a pressing local issue they believe will change the face of the neighborhood in which they work and worship. In addition to clergy, the Friends of East Boston are comprised of small business leaders, nonprofit leaders, and others who agree that their community deserves better than a casino.
“I realize we live in difficult economic times, but that is no reason for our great Commonwealth to resort to inviting into our midst a business that will inevitably cause more human suffering,” says Fr. Thomas Domurat, pastor of Most Holy Redeemer and founding member of Friends of East Boston. “The people of East Boston deserve better.”
Fr. Domurat is a founding member of the Friends of East Boston, which is leading a neighborhood-wide petition drive, led by the congregations, small businesses and nonprofit organizations, to give residents a venue to firmly state their opposition to the development of a casino at Suffolk Downs. They are working to collect more than 5,000 signatures in East Boston and Revere and together deliver the signed petition to the doorstep of Suffolk Downs as a statement of solidarity and resolve.
The ministers join a growing movement of strong, local voices urging a casino-free future for their community. “We’re thrilled pastors are encouraging their people towards action as it relates to this pressing local concern,” states Jessica Curtis, Policy Director of No Eastie Casino, “because regardless of race, culture or creed, the damaging consequences of a casino in our neighborhood will affect us all.”
Members of the Friends of East Boston oppose the casino because of its affect on crime, addiction, pollution, bankruptcy, insurance rates, and other impacts, but leaders stress the group does not exist simply to be against a casino in our community. They say they oppose this project because East Boston’s best days are yet to come – and they’ll be casino-free.
In addition to the petition, ministers have agreed to lead their congregations in several weeks of prayer for positive future development in East Boston and preach to their congregations about the harmful effects a casino will have in their neighborhood.
“Do not sell our city for slot machines,” said Rev. Alicia Climaco, pastor of Iglesia Profetica Ciudad de Sion. “God has something better for us and for this city. Let’s vote ‘no’ on the proposed casino on November 5th.”