Dozens of Christian, Jewish and Muslim congregations plan to gather this Wednesday to “reaffirm our shared spiritual values, to gain strength, and to affirm our commitment to each other in the fight against oppression” in the wake of the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville this month.
The gathering will take place at The Fourth Universalist Society at 160 Central Park West (between 75 and 76th) at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. That church was vandalized with swastikas and hateful words earlier this year.
See the full post below about the event from the event Facebook page, and go to the Facebook page to RSVP. All are welcome.
An Interfaith Gathering of Solidarity, Hope and Action
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
6pm at The Fourth Universalist Society, 160 Central Park West (between 75 and 76th)This is a time for NYC’s communities of faith to come together to reaffirm our shared spiritual values, to gain strength, and to affirm our commitment to each other in the fight against oppression.
Our country is at a moment of spiritual crisis. Its soul has been damaged, and we are at risk of losing our way. White supremacists and Nazis marched in Charlottesville without masks and without fear of retribution, many armed with weapons. These individuals and groups seek to destroy people of color, Jews and Muslims, immigrants and LGBTQ individuals. They took the life of an innocent woman and left many more injured. And the marching continues in cities across the country.
While hate like this is not new and while white supremacy continues to harm the most vulnerable in our society, we now see this hatred and violence legitimized and even encouraged at the highest levels.
We need each other. We need to declare together, across differences of faith and race, that there is no room for hate in our congregations, in our city and in our nation.
We gather to affirm that our faiths instruct us to love—and that love will always win.
Join us! You are needed. Join us as we draw on our faith traditions to inspire us to hope and to act together towards racial justice and an end to discrimination and oppression. Join us as we pray and seek peace–shalom, salaam.
Please post widely. RSVPs helpful for event planners.
Sponsored by (list in process*):
SAJ (Society for the Advancement of Judaism)
B’nai Jeshurun
Grace Congregational Church
Riverside Church
The Interfaith Center of NY
Congregation Sha’arei Tzedek
Workmen’s Circle
The Fourth Universalist Society
JCC Manhattan
Congregation Shaare Zedek
Congregation Beit Simchat Torah
Uri L’Tzedek
Romemu
Union Theological Seminary
Congregation Rodeph Sholom
Ansche Chesed
Kolot Chayeinu
Jews for Racial and Economic Justice
The Community Church of NY Unitarian Universalist
Malkhut, Western Queens
NYC Muslim-Jewish Solidarity Committee
LGBT Faith Leaders of African Descent
Church of Saint Paul and Saint Andrews
Metropolitan Association, New York Conference of the United Church of Christ
West End Synagogue
Pamsula Zen Center
Chautauqua Institution, Department of Religion
Temple Shaaray Tefila
Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
Jewish Theological Seminary
New Sanctuary Movement
Jamaica Muslim Center, Queens
Masjid Al-Hikmah, Astoria
Nusantara Foundation
Congregation Ramath Orah
American Jewish Committee NY
Trinity Lutheran Church
Auburn Theological Seminary
Queens Baptist Church
The Shul of New York
The International Fellowship of Reconciliation
Brooklyn Jewish Muslim Faith Leaders Partnership
Muslim Community Network
Gathering for Justice/The Justice League, NYC
Central Synagogue
Caring for Us Indivisible
Darkhei Noam
NYU Global Spiritual Life
Park Avenue Christian Church
“While hate like this is not new and while white supremacy continues to harm the most vulnerable in our society, we now see this hatred and violence legitimized and even encouraged at the highest levels.”
Our government needs to serve and protect us. That seems reversed today.
Yeah, the video shows conclusively that the weapons (2×4 studs with nails protruding, urine bottles, bottles filled with concrete, spray cans turned into flamethrowers) were carried in by Antifa. The alt left.
I guess you’re not feeling love?
“We gather to affirm that our faiths instruct us to love—and that love will always win.
Join us! You are needed.”
The white supremacists marching in Charlottesville were atrocious but the BLM and Antifa and keffiyah wearers in the counter-protesting crowd were no angels either.
Hatred on both extremes of the spectrum should be condemned.
You’re right.
It’s bad to hate Nazis.
Anyone fighting Nazis is OK in my book.
Stalin fought the Nazis but he was a tyrant and a mass murderer.
And your point is? Whoever fights Nazis is a murderer? If Nazis are killed while concentration camps are liberated, will you call these soldiers murderers too?
I don’t think Sherman and other Fox News viewers have an actual point.
They just repeat things they hear without actually thinking about it.
Hi Mark
I’m glad you’re such a fan of Antifa.
Anarchists usually make good neighbors.
not enough muslim representation other mosques should have been included
It’s possible that more mosques were invited but declined to participate.
Back in my shulgoing days our congregation tried many times to partner with local mosques but were rebuffed.
Can’t help but notice not a single Catholic organization is participating. I guess the priests are too busy protesting the obligation that insurance carriers provide contraceptive coverage and trying to roll back marriage equality to involve themselves in a “political” event.