August 23, 2004

My name is Barry Gross. I am a physician, and I have been a faculty member in the University of Michigan Medical School for most of the years since 1982. I have lived in Ann Arbor for 30 of the past 35 years, the last 22 consecutively.

Picketers at my synagogue, Ann Arbor's own Beth Israel Congregation, have impeded my free religious expression for nearly one year. I do not write seeking statutory relief. I am aware that, bizarre as it seems, the picketers' first amendment right to free speech trumps my first amendment right to free religious expression. However, a line has been crossed here. Targeting the religious expression of Americans of faith is anathema to our most cherished beliefs. When the Americans of faith under siege are a small minority of the population, the behavior is even more reprehensible. This is the type of uncivil behavior that no American of conscience can ignore. Even so, I am not primarily concerned with the actions of these misguided wrongdoers. What is far worse is the lack of public outcry. The silence on this topic from religious leaders in the community is deafening. Worse yet, when our elected authorities fail to address behavior that is totally antithetical to America's role as the bastion of freedom of religion, it serves as a signal to bullies and bigots that they are free to discriminate against religious minorities with impunity. In your role as our elected municipal representatives you are responsible for the maintenance of a civil environment, free of ethnic and religious intimidation. The time when your silence was acceptable is long past. The 470 family units in our congregation virtually all live in Ann Arbor. We are avid voters. We are watching closely for your response