Multifaith Voices for Peace & Justice (MVPJ) stands firm in its commitment to work for peace. While we recignize and respect diversity among individuals and traditions, MVPJ insists that "War is not the answer," but will lead to more violence and countless harm and death, particularly in this current situation between the United States and Iran. MVPJ is not advocating all the views or stands of any of these organizations, but in the list below we want to show how people from so many and various backgrounds and walks of life are speaking out against war with Iran, and offer their perspectives for your prayerful consideration. WE URGE YOU TODAY to call or write to your Congressmembers, either directly or through one of these online options!

Check this webpage occasionally for updates. Below is an initial collection of action suggestions and responses from different religious and civic groups. Feel free to email us if you have ideas we might add, particularly from your own faith tradition. Please note that you do not need to be a member of any of these traditions or organizations to use their site to send messages.

Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL): MVPJ has long partnered with and learned from this Quaker-based peace lobbying group. Here is a link to easily find and write a letter to your Congress members through FCLN, and this link has a short script for you to CALL your Congressperson, always 

CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relations) is a Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. On this webpage they call on Americans to urge Congress to block funding for war with Iran, give background on the legislations re-introduced to Congress last Friday, Jan. 3, and an opportunity to send an email to officials.

J Street, a Jewish organization in the United States, released this article with very helpful information on why they believe Congress must act to prevent war with Iran.

The United Church of Christ (a major Protestant denomination) has long advocated for diplomatic and peaceful engagement with Iran. Use this link for useful background information and as well as to send an email to your Congress members.

Pax Christi USA is a Catholic peace and justice organization that has a full, updated webpage with excellent links to prayers, faith statements, study material (including from the National Council of Churches) and action recommendations.

American Friends Service Committee, another Quaker organization, offers background with "5 things to know about Iran" and emailing options on this second page.

University AME Zion, the oldest African-American church between San Mateo and San Jose, and a treasured and valued part of our community, found angry graffitti on their property Saturday morning, December 28. (Click here to read the Palo Alto Online article.)

Our response, as a community, is to stand with them in solidartiy, to support them however we can, and most importantly, to celebrate who they are and the many gifts they bring to us all.

Here are two opportunities to do just that:

Join University AME Zion this Sunday, January 5th, for Solidarity Sunday, from 9:30-11am. The church is located at 3549 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. All are welcome! (If your own worshipping community time conflicts, feel free to come for at least part of this time to show your support and solidarity.)

Contribute: If you cannot attend this Sunday but would like to donate to help the church repair and install more security and better lighting, click on this link to make your donation.

In the face of these attacks, the church insists: "We will not hide or shrink back in fear, but we will open our doors to invite our community to stand in solidarity with us." 

Saturday, December 14
4pm-5:30pm
Lytton Plaza, 250 Hamilton
Palo Alto

On this seventh anniversary of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, gather with us to give voice to the over 700,000 victims and survivors of gun violence since December 2012.

The program will include testimony from a Menlo-Atherton High School student (Students Demand Action), two survivors of gun violence, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, State Assemblymember Marc Berman, and Dr. Susie MacLean from SAFE (Scrubs Addressing the Firearm Epidemic). The vigil will conclude with a ceremony of Remembrance and Bell Ringing for those impacted by gun violence.

Sponsored by Moms Demand Action, Multifaith Voices for Peace & Justice, and other faith and community organizations.

Shine a light to #EndGunViolence

Download a PDF Flyer and post this jpg flyer to help spread the word!

Join us in a GLOBAL Climate Strike!

Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, 6-8pm
King Plaza, 250 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto
Why: THIS IS NOT A DRILL: This March and Rally will include prominent local speakers and musicians to speak to our current Climate Emergency!

Sponsored by Peninsula Peace & Justice Center
Co-sponsors include Multifaith Voices for Peace Justice, Greenbelt Alliance, Women's International League for Peace & Freedom, & others.

Please bring a jacket!

Mark this day for friendship, solidarity and peace!
Wednesday, September 11, 6-8pm
King Plaza, 250 Hamilton Ave., Palo Alto

Join us for this annual multifaith gathering. The picnic (complementary vegan meal) begins at 6pm followed by a program at 6:45pm. Both are hosted by American Muslim Voice in partnership with MVPJ and others. This year there will be just ONE PROGRAM with prayers and words for peace from diverse faith traditions, music, singing and children's choirs. 

SPECIAL SPEAKER: Gloria Williams* from September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows (family members who lost a loved one on 9/11/01).

RSVP: While the event is free, we need to know if you are coming so we can plan our food and set-up accordingly. PLEASE RSVP using this Eventbrite link.

Are you available to help? Please click here to fill out our volunteer form. 

Everyone is welcome!

Sponsored by Multifaith Voices for Peace & Justice and American Muslim Voice.
Local faith organizations who are cohosting this event include: All Saints Episcopal Church, Palo Alto; Bahá’í Community of Palo Alto; Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Peace, South Bay Chapter; Berkeley Masjid (Mosque); Chung Tai Zen Center of Sunnyvale; Congregation Beth Am, Los Altos Hills; Congregation Etz Chayim; Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR); Covenant Presbyterian Church, Palo Alto; First Congregational Church, Palo Alto; First Presbyterian Church, Palo Alto; First United Methodist Church, Palo Alto; Keddem Congregation; MVPA Musalla (Muslim Worship Place); Oshman Family Jewish Community Center; Palo Alto Buddhist Temple; People Acting in Community Together (PACT); Peninsula Faith Leaders' Solidarity Cohort; Region 7, Sathya Sai International Organization USA; St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Palo Alto; South Bay Islamic Association; Stanford Memorial Church and Office for Religious Life; Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto; Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Los Gatos; Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Sunnyvale, Social Justice Team; University Lutheran Church of Palo Alto, In memory of Sayed & Razia Inamdar, South Bay Islamic Association, Trinity Church in Menlo Park Episcopal, Carry the Vision, Silicon Valley Inter-religious Council, along with other individuals, businesses and organizations of good will!

Wednesday night, August 14, a guard at a for-profit ICE Detention Center in Central Falls, Rhode Island drove a truck into a group of peaceful protesters from an organization called Never Again Action. Then a squad of prison guards came out and pepper sprayed them. Five people were hospitalized, including one person with a fractured leg. Those protesting were mostly Jewish community members demonstrating against the for-profit prison's contract with ICE and the inhumane and immoral immigration policies. Click here to read the NPR report and watch the disturbing video.

Never Again Action emphasizes that these assaults are just a small example of the horrifying violence that ICE uses against our immigrant neighbors every day.

To show support and solidarity, please read and consider signing this petition from Never Again Action calling for the closure of the Wyatt Detention Center and the immediate release of all ICE detainees.

August 20, 2019 "talking points" from Never Again Action organizers:

• We are grateful that the five injured protesters have all been released from the hospital, but our thoughts are also with the people locked inside The Wyatt in horrible conditions without access to medical care. The violence that #JewsAgainstICE protesters experienced was a small example of the violence that ICE uses against our immigrant neighbors every day.
• We appreciate the decision by Wyatt Detention Facility to place Captain Woodworth on leave, and by the state to open an investigation, but we also call for the governor and attorney general of Rhode Island to open a broader investigation into the unsafe and inhumane conditions at Wyatt Detention, where over 100 asylum seekers are currently being detained.
• Violence at the hands of law enforcement is an all-too-common reality for many people of color in the U.S., and rarely do the perpetrators face swift consequences like Captain Woodworth did in this case.

Lights for Liberty: A Vigil to End Human Concentration Camps
Friday, July 12, 6:30-7:30pm*
Lytton Plaza, Corner of Emerson St. and University Ave., Palo Alto

Be part of a worldwide movement to protect the sacred principle that ALL HUMAN BEINGS HAVE A RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY AND DIGNITY, and to protest the inhumane and immoral conditions faced by refugees and immigrants.

Our gathering will include prayers from diverse faith traditions, singing, and a quiet vigil holding signs of solidarity as part of the Lights for Liberty: A Vigil to End Human Concentration Camps movement across the nation and around the globe. Some signs will be provided and you are welcome to bring your own. You may also bring your own congregational banner, to indicate the support of your faith community.

*We begin and end the program early to include our Jewish members' observance of Shabbat, which starts at 8:12pm. 

Give me your tired, your poor,
your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift up my lamp beside the golden door.
--Emma Lazarus, as inscribed on the Statue of Liberty

Please visit our Facebook event page, tell us you are coming, and SHARE WIDELY!!!

If your congregation, organization or community would like to be listed as a co-sponsor, please contact us at info@multifaithpeace.org.