Fwd: Correction: Updated Report From Art Laffin--Please Post This Version: Sept. 18, 2025 Prayer Service and Procession for Palestine and to Stop the Genocide in Gaza at FCNL and U.S. Capitol

[Catholic Worker]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Art Laffin <artl...@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, Sep 21, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Subject: Correction: Updated Report From Art Laffin--Please Post This Version: Sept. 18, 2025 Prayer Service and Procession for Palestine and to Stop the Genocide in Gaza at FCNL and U.S. Capitol
To: Catholic Worker <catholicw...@gmail.com>, Renee Roden <re...@catholicworker.org>

 

Dear Friends, 

On September 18th, the Global Day of Action for Palestine, some 50 people attended the Christians for Ceasefire and Just Peace sponsored prayer service outside the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) and a procession/vigil at the U.S. Capitol to call for an end to the U.S.-backed Israeli genocidal war and forced starvation in Gaza, ethnic cleansing and apartheid in Palestine, all U.S. arms sales to Israel, and that unimpeded aid and food be allowed into Gaza immediately. The launch of "Complicit Corporations Campaign" focusing on Chevron and Palantir was also announced.

The Prayer Service included an opening statement of purpose read by Carrie Muniak (see below), a scripture reading, Prayers from Sabeel Wave of Prayer (Palestinian Liberation Theology Center in East Jerusalem), songs, a Litany, compelling reflections by Hassan Al-Tayyab of FCNL and Rev. Jennifer Hosler, Pastor at Washington City Church of the Brethren, a litany, and a recitation of the Lord's Prayer led by Laurie Gagne, the emcee. 

During the procession the names of some of the Palestinian children under one years old killed in Gaza were read with the response after each name: "We remember You." At the Capitol vigil, Scott Wright led a moving reflection/prayer: "Why We Are Still Here," and I offered a song.

Here is the link to photos for the witness courtesy of Liz Holtz: https://photos.app.goo.gl/sfTtfxKyCMfwL6cc6

 

In peace, hope and solidarity,

Art

Opening--Statement of Purpose 

Thank you so much for joining us as we witness in solidarity with all those who are participating today in the Palestinian and Global Civil Society Call for a Global Day of Action and Strike. We are members of Christians for Ceasefire and Just Peace, a multi-denominational group for Christians and allies who raise our prayers and our voices for the people of Palestine, and all those impacted by the abductions and violence in the region. We seek a just peace for all of God’s children, wherever they may live. Across the globe today, millions denounce Israel's refusal to comply with the UN order to end its unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory and insist they adhere to the ruling in the genocide case at the International Criminal Court. Additionally, this day of action calls on UN member nations to act immediately to end Israel's genocide against the Palestinian people. 

We are specifically here today asking for an end to the U.S. funded, supplied, and supported genocide in Ġaza, an end to the attempts to annex the West Bank, and an end to the apartheid system in Israel as a whole. We demand an end to the forced starvation of Ġazans and for aid to be brought in immediately and without restriction. We demand that those who remain quiet and complicit, or worse those that are loud and profit off of this genocide, to see what they are doing. For they are doing the most un-Christian like thing one can do - they deny their brothers and sisters in Christ their humanity. Let’s not forget, Jesus declares “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me'". 

Most of all, we as followers of Jesus Christ, beg all who will hear our prayers and pleas for peace and dignity to join us. We beg those who have so much power in this world through their representation of their American constituents to wield that power in the peaceful example of Jesus Christ. We beg those with power from great wealth and empire to divest from the disgusting practices their companies maintain through profiting on the genocide of Palestinians, particularly Chevron and Palantir. Today, a Christian coalition of over 25 organizations and communities is joining a broader coalition of multi-faith and secular organizations to expose and divest from Chevron and Palantir. We seek to leverage corporate influence on U.S. and Israeli political leaders to change course. We invite other organizations and individuals to join us in this strategic nonviolent campaign 

Finally, we implore each of you gathered here, whose power may not be defined by a title, but by the power God bestows within each of us, and that grows exponentially when in community with our neighbors, our friends, and our families, to stand against the genocide of the Palestinians and stand for Palestinian humanity, dignity, and their right to self-determination.