Dear Chancellor Katehi, the UCDavis Community and the broader Davis Community,
We as the leaders of the Celebration of Abraham, after prayers and discussion, feel called to write. The Celebration of Abraham is a community organization dedicated to open, respective dialogue among individuals of all different religious traditions to build a local pluralist community.  Our purpose in writing this letter is to call for thoughtfulness and compassion for all involved. As Reverend Kristin Stoneking and Pastor Mary Lynn Tobin have so eloquently written as religious leaders, we believe our role is to help our whole community find ways to heal.
We found the videos of the pepper spraying of peacefully demonstrating students unacceptable and like others call for a full and transparent investigation of the incident. We have been very proud of the Occupy UCDavis protesters for their commitment to non-violence. Repeated calls went forth from the stage at today’s (Monday’s) rally to remember the importance of non-violence.
However, we believe that all in the community—administrators, police, faculty, students and staff as well as the broader Davis community –must remember that non-violence is more than not physically hurting the other party. While we must engage in open and truthful dialogue, we also must all remember that those we disagree with are also human. We pray that everyone will speak with thoughtfulness, courtesy and avoid inflammatory rhetoric.
The Celebration of Abraham,
Pastor, Mary Lynn Tobin
Rabbi Greg Wolfe
Hamza El-nakhal
Michael Hirsch
Pastor Dan Smith
Mary Philip
Shipley and Dick Walters
Helen Roland