Via press release
We abhor the loss of life, and the pain and suffering caused by the attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023, and the ongoing anguish of the hostages and their families.
We abhor the ongoing loss of life, and the pain and suffering caused by the Israeli military in Gaza and the West Bank where the world is witnessing a horrific attack on an entire population.
At this critical moment in human history, the words of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Martin Luther King, Jr., in his book, ‘Where Do We Go from Here: Community or Chaos? resonate prophetically:
“The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy, instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
We summon our collective courage to open our eyes to the atrocities happening and to do all we can to bring about a peace based on safety, respect, and justice for all. If justice is absent, there is no hope for peace.
We begin by requesting our Metro Council representatives to pass a resolution calling on the US government to pressure for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.
A military solution is impossible, and a future of peace can only begin with an end to the violence and oppression. “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Let us choose love!
With urgency,
Grace-Hope Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)
St. William Catholic Community
Casa Latina Catholic Worker
The JOY Community, Presbyterian Church USA
Pacific Presbytery, Presbyterian Church USA
Change Today Change Tomorrow
Rev. Dr. Angela Johnson, Presbyterian Church USA
Rev. Rebecca Barnes, Presbyterian Church USA
Rev. Andrew Kang Bartlett, Universal Life ChurchRev. Patricia Lloyd-Sidle, Presbyterian Church USA
Chaplain Elizabeth Reid, Jewish
Rev. Dr. James J. Kirk, Presbyterian Church USA
Rev. David Maxwell, Presbyterian Church USA
Rev. Sandra Moon, Presbyterian Church USA
Rev. Katherine T. Ockels, Presbyterian Church USA
Rev. Belinda M. Curry, Presbyterian Church USA
Reverend Carl E Horton, Presbyterian Church USA
Rev. Elwood Sturtevant, Unitarian Universalist
Rev. Jane Larsen-Wigger, Presbyterian Church USA
Rev. Mark Koenig, Presbyterian Church USA
Rev. Abbi Heimach-Snipes, Presbyterian Church USA
Rev. James E. Flynn, Roman Catholic Church
Rev. Dr. Alonzo T. Johnson, Presbyterian Church USA
Sister Julie Driscoll, Catholic
Rev. Cindy Geisen
Reverend Doctor Shannon Craigo-Snell, Presbyterian Church USA
Rev. Dr. Laurie A Kraus, Presbyterian Church USA
Rev. Dr. Antonio J. Aja, Presbyterian Church USA
Dr. Eric Mount, Presbyterian Church USA
Rev. Molly Casteel, Presbyterian Church USA
Rev. Amber Inscore Essick, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Rev. Heidi Worthen Gamble, Presbyterian Church USA
Rev. Christian Iosso, PhD, Presbyterian Church USA
Delvan A. Ramey, Ph.D., First Unitarian Church member
Charles Walsh, Roman Catholic
Harry Pickens, Christian Mystic
Genevieve Holtsclaw
Christi Stevens
Melinda StalterDr. Lisa Markowitz, Jewish
Deanna Rushing
Grace Mican, Church of Nature
Bronson Rozier
Robin Garr, Episcopalian
John Mark Barnes
Emily Fife, Presbyterian Church USA
Savannah Walker
Jack Manzella
Ashley Pollard
Catie Reid Fuente
Hudson
Kaitlyn
Brenda Vazquez, Buddhist
Janet Storts, Presbyterian Church USA
Zach Digan
Norah A Kute, Roman Catholic
Grace Rogers, Protestant
Doug Welch
Lily Priel
Nancy Jakubiak, Catholic
Dr. CJ Haynes
Alice Wright Belknap, M. Ed., Catholic
Suzanne Meeks
Ada Asenjo
Kathy Wallace, Catholic
Sharon Dunne Gillies, Catholic
Laura Stalter
Molly Anderson, Society of Friends
Cindy ScheldorfMonica E. Unseld, Ph.D, MPH, Christian
Sara Ceresa, Episcopalian
Bethany Schulz,
Michele, Earth-based Mysticism
Julie Cline, Non-Demoninational
Catherine Mahady, Catholic
Maria Arroyo, Christian
Pinky Jackson, Unity School of Christianity
Allison Davidson, Quaker
Cory Lockhart, Catholic
Charlene Moser, Catholic
Kari L. Hay
Julie Driscoll
Cindy Geisen
Barbara Hedspeth, Presbyterian Church USA
Eugenia Bonyun, Presbyterian Church USA
Katharine Griswold, Presbyterian Church USA
Andrew Stone Porter, Catholic
Maria Scharfenberger, Catholic
Mark Saliga
Bria Trotter
Eva Simpson, Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church (PCUSA)
Audrey Little
Gergana Dinkova, All is One
Amber Inscore Essick, Unitarian Universalist
Kay Stevens, Presbyterian Church USA
Patricia Henninger, Presbyterian Church USA
David Abazs, Druid
Lise Abazs
Kathy WallaceDiane Waddell, Presbyterian Church USA
Dawn Dones, St. William Catholic Church
Dr. Michael J. Adee, Presbyterian Church USA
Gordon Oyer, Mennonite
Rachel K. Evans, Secular Humanist
Phil Woods, Presbyterian Church USA
Christy Chesnut
Leon Bee Wang, Presbyterian Church USA
David Horvath, Catholic
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