Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 25 April 2025

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters. 

Workers in 600+ US Cities to Protest ‘Billionaire Takeover’ on May Day 

On 1 May protesters in over 600 cities across the United States are expected to converge for massive “May Day” protests. “There will be no business as usual while they are disappearing people off the street, slashing critical services, and taking away our freedoms,” said Saqib Bhatti, executive director of Bargaining for the Common Good. “They’re causing a crisis in our communities. We’re going to bring that crisis directly to their doorsteps.”  

Analyst Comments: The 2025 May Day protests come at a time when the threat landscape is very complex, with social, political, and religious issues both separately and collectively causing both stress, and legitimate threats. Executives being targeted, businesses being burned, and campus protesters being detained have all contributed to an environment where tensions are high, and the potential for peaceful protests to turn violent is a real threat.. If you plan to attend or organize a protest, it is essential to know safety tips in order to protest safely. Plan ahead, stay aware, use the buddy system, and stay calm. Meanwhile, houses of worship are encouraged to raise awareness levels if protests will be happening nearby, and report any suspicious activity to local authorities, and both terrorists and agitators have been known to leverage civil unrest to hide their intentions. 

Resources:  

• Tips for Preparedness, Peaceful Protesting, and Safety 
• How to Protest Safely 
• CISA: Protecting Infrastructure During Public Demonstrations 
• CISA: Enhancing Personal and Organizational Security During Civil Unrest  

Threat to deport persecuted Christians hits close to home for North Carolina church 

A North Carolina church, Church of the Apostles in Raleigh, is urgently advocating for nearly two dozen Afghan Christian refugees facing imminent deportation from the U.S. despite having arrived legally and under documented threat of persecution from the Taliban. Seminary student Julie Tisdale, alongside church members, has engaged lawmakers and the media, highlighting the refugees’ lawful status, peaceful integration, and the severe danger they would face if returned to Afghanistan including torture and death for their conversion to Christianity. The deportation threat follows the U.S. government’s decision not to renew Temporary Protected Status for thousands of Afghans. Faith leaders, including Franklin Graham, have also appealed to Washington, seeking a delay and review of these cases. Tisdale emphasizes the moral and constitutional duty to protect these individuals, urging public prayer and advocacy to preserve their right to safety, religious freedom, and the pursuit of a peaceful life in America. 

Analyst Comments: This case illustrates the complexity and fragility of refugee protection systems, particularly for individuals facing credible threats of violence due to religious beliefs. Faith-based advocacy effort showcases the growing influence in faith communities in shaping immigration discourse. We have previously discussed ICE’s presence within houses of worship, and the situation continues to be fluid, including a recent ruling allowing immigration agents to conduct enforcement operations at houses of worship. World Relief offers recommendations for houses of worship dealing with immigration officials. 

Proposal Would Make Qualifying for Emergency Declarations More Difficult   

A memo from acting FEMA administrator Cameron Hamilton, outlines a long list of recommendations for President Trump to follow that could drastically reduce the number of emergency declarations the President approves, and the amount of federal assistance doled out to cities and states hit by natural disasters. The memo proposes dramatically raising the threshold for states to qualify for public assistance, effectively quadrupling the amount of damage a community must suffer in order to receive federal aid. 

The proposal also recommends reducing the share of recovery costs the federal government will pay, limiting the types of facilities eligible for assistance and denying all major disaster declarations for snowstorms. North Carolina Emergency Management spokesman Justin Graney told CNN the proposed increase was “alarming”, while Karina Shagren, communications director for the Washington Military Department, which oversees the state’s emergency management indicated that they are “anticipating that states are going to have to take on a larger burden to respond to emergencies. We just need some clarity. We’re trying to develop a path forward without really knowing what the path looks like.” There has not been any indication at this time that the proposal will be enacted.

Analyst Comments: The FEMA memo from Acting Administrator Cameron Hamilton signals a potentially major shift in federal disaster policy, with far-reaching effects for state and local governments. By proposing a substantial increase in the threshold for disaster declarations and a reduction in the federal share of recovery costs, the memo outlines a significant change in the structure and funding of disaster relief efforts. Although the proposal has not yet been implemented, it indicates a potential move toward a more decentralized, state-led approach to emergency response. Stakeholders across all levels of government should stay informed, evaluate the financial implications, and begin preparing for possible adjustments to federal disaster aid policies.