The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Hinenu Baltimore Synagogue, Payne Memorial AME Church, Hindus for Human Rights and the Islamic Society of Baltimore today announced that they are partnering with Faith For Black Lives, National Council of Churches of Christ USA, Rabbis for Ceasefire and other groups cosponsoring and participating in the ‘Pilgrimage for Peace’ (P4P) from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. to demand a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
SEE: Pilgrimage for Peace
Pilgrimage for Peace: Philadelphia, PA to Washington, DC #CeasefireNow
MEDIA ADVISORY: CAIR Maryland, Hinenu: Justice Shtiebl, Payne Memorial AME Church, Hindus for Human Rights, the Islamic Society of Baltimore and our partners are urging community members to join an interfaith service for ceasefire at Payne Memorial AME Church on Monday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m.
WHAT: ‘Pilgrimage for Peace’ for Ceasefire – Interfaith Rally and Service
WHEN: Monday, February 19, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Payne Memorial AME Church, 1714 Madison Avenue Baltimore, MD 21217
MEDIA CONTACT: Arianna Morell, 954-629-8863, National Council of Churches; CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, [email protected], 410-971-6062
“Payne Memorial AME Church is honored to host the Pilgrimage for Peace Ceasefire Rally in Baltimore,” said Rev. Mulch E. M. Thomas, Senior Pastor of Payne Memorial AME Church. “For nearly 130 years, Payne Memorial has remained committed to the cause of justice and liberation globally. Our church seeks to live out the prophetic imperative by joining with our siblings from all backgrounds to demand an end to the genocidal and heinous violence taking place in Palestine. Hopefully, this event will demonstrate an international solidarity that stretches from West Baltimore to the West Bank, and beyond.”
“For over 137 days and 75 years, Palestine has been teaching the world life amidst unfathomable oppression,” said CAIR’s Maryland director Zainab Chaudry. “The Pilgrimage of Peace, an initiative rooted in faith, is a testimony to the power of our collective humanity drawing people of conscience from different backgrounds to join the call to demand an end to the senseless violence and bloodshed. I plan to march with the pilgrims on Tuesday after the rally holding this sacred truth that the steps we take towards justice are necessary to bring us towards peace.”
“The Exodus is a story of a march toward liberation,” said Rabbi Ariana Katz, of Hinenu, a Baltimore synagogue. “This multi-faith march is that, and more. It is a march of mourning, it is a march of solidarity, and it is a march for our lawmakers in Washington DC to take note and hear our demand for a ceasefire and for justice in Palestine. I am joining the Pilgrimage for
Peace with prayer that we move from this narrowest place towards a ceasefire.”
“Our interfaith coalition shares a commitment to the sacred obligation to protect human life,” said Rabbi Alissa Wise, Lead Organizer of Rabbis for Ceasefire. “That is the root of our call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. We are grateful to link arms with Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Native American, Buddhist and other spiritual leaders with whom we share a vision of a redeemed world. Jews, Palestinians, and all of our communities will find safety not in isolation,
but through solidarity rooted in our commitment of life, justice, and dignity for everyone.”
“As progressive Hindus, our faith leads us to insist on justice (nyaya), and shanti and ahimsa (peace and nonviolence) for all oppressed people everywhere,” said Sandhya Gupta of Hindus for Human Rights. “As an organization of Hindu Americans, we speak out because of our complicity in the genocide underway, since our tax dollars are funding and fueling it.”
“It’s a historical moment for Baltimore and our country, as the Jewish community, African American community, and Muslim Americans stand united against our country supporting, arming and funding the immoral genocidal onslaught being carried out by the Israeli government,” said Sharif Silmi, councilmember of the Islamic Society of Baltimore. “We call on our government to stop funding endless war, demand an immediate ceasefire, provide robust humanitarian relief, and start paying attention to the needs of our own communities here in the United States.”
BACKGROUND:
From February 14 to February 21, 2024, faith leaders, activists, and artists are journeying on a pilgrimage together from Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA to Washington, DC to urge President Biden to call for a permanent ceasefire to end to the ongoing violence in Palestine. They will journey through Delaware and Maryland en route to the White House, where they are scheduled to arrive on Wednesday, February 21.
The death toll in Gaza is almost 30,000, mostly children and women, as Israel stands on the brink of a ground invasion into the border town of Rafah where over 1.5 Palestinians are seeking refuge in tents, desperately fending off cold temperatures and starvation.
The pilgrims aim to stand united to address the ongoing tragedy in Gaza as they mourn the loss of innocent Israeli and Palestinian lives. They urge President Biden and Congress to halt weapons funding to Israel and, instead, channel efforts towards increasing humanitarian aid to Palestine.
‘Pilgrimage for Peace’ Partnering Organizations Include:
Faith for Black Lives, National Council of Churches of Christ USA, Rabbis for Ceasefire, Hindus for Human Rights, The Pennsylvania Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Philadelphia), Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, Black Church Center for Justice and Equality, Until Freedom, Kairos Center, Freedom Church of the Poor and more.
Payne Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church exists so that People Far From God will be transformed through the Love Of Jesus Christ (John 13:34-35).
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Hinenu: The Baltimore Justice Shtiebel is a community rooted in joy, pursuit of justice, and radical kinship. We offer a home for people of all backgrounds seeking Jewish life to land, feel safe, and be welcomed.
Hindus for Human Right’s mission is to advocate for pluralism, civil and human rights in South Asia and North America, rooted in the values of the Hindu faith: shanti (peace), nyaya (justice) and satya (truth). We provide a Hindu voice of resistance to caste, Hindutva (Hindu nationalism), racism, and all forms of bigotry and oppression.
-END-