March 21, 2024
Immediate Release
Contacts:
Janine Walsh, Franciscan Action Network, walsh@franciscanaction.org
Judy Coode, Pax Christi USA, jcoode@paxchristiusa.org
12 Christian leaders arrested in Senate calling for ceasefire in Gaza
Washington, D.C. – As part of their Lenten Ceasefire Campaign, Christians for Ceasefire held a prayer vigil on Thursday afternoon with national faith leaders and approximately 75 in attendance on Capitol Hill followed by a nonviolent action in the Russell Senate Office Building.
Faith leaders including Joyce Ajlouny, General Secretary of the American Friends Service Committee (Quakers); Mubarak Awad, the Palestinian founder of Nonviolence International; Rev. Mae Elise Cannon, Executive Director of Churches for Middle East Peace; Jonathan Kuttab, Executive Director of Friends of Sabeel North America; Rev. Graylan Hagler of the Fellowship of Reconciliation; and Scott Wright, a Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace who recently participated in the Stones Cry Out faith delegation to Palestine, had powerful words calling for prayers for a permanent ceasefire, humanitarian aid, and proper respect for everyone. Attendees heard heartbreaking statistics of the continued violation of humanity in Gaza, and a lamentation was read throughout the prayer vigil.
After the planned remarks in front of the Methodist Building, the group made its way across the street to carry out a nonviolent witness inside the Russell Senate Office Building. After standing in the formation of a cross in the center of the building’s rotunda while singing out phrases such as “Food not war,” “Children are dying in Gaza,” and “No more bombing hospitals,” 12 people were arrested by U.S. Capitol Police for nonviolent civil disobedience – according to officers, the arrestees were charged with “unlawfully protesting.” They were transported to police headquarters for processing.
Photos can be seen here. Credit: Christians for Ceasefire
Endorsing Organizations:
The endorsing organizations include Christians for a Free Palestine; Churches for Middle East Peace; Church of the Brethren, Office of Peacebuilding and Policy; Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces; Dorothy Day Catholic Worker; Fellowship of Reconciliation; Festival Center; Franciscan Action Network; Friends of Sabeel North America (FOSNA); Georgetown University Medical Students for Palestine, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns; National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd; National Council of Churches, USA; Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace; Pax Christi USA; Quixote Center; Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team; Sojourners; United Church of Christ; The United Methodist Church — General Board of Church and Society; US Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph; and the Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual (WATER).
###