A major figure in Western Buddhism, Thurman was the Je Tsongkhapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University, before retiring in 2019. He passed away at 84.

ALT: a black and white photo of a group of children sitting at desks in a classroom

No one was injured but the zendo was completely lost to the fire, as well as some of the library.

The letter’s signers say they were prompted to speak out because of the damage the Trump administration’s immigration policies have done to Latino communities.