Thousands Converge on Washington, DC for Christian Peace Witness for Iraq
Monday, March 19, 2007
Braving the sleet and snow, more than 3,000 people from 48 states gathered for worship at the Washington National Cathedral and processed through our nation's capital by candlelight to surround the White House Friday night to call for an end to the war in Iraq.
Thousands participated in a vigil at LaFayette Park across from the White House following the service and 222 were arrested in a nact of civil disobedience, praying in front of the White House gates.
"Mr. Bush, my Christian brother, we do need a surge in troops. We need a surge in the nonviolent army of the Lord," Rev. Raphael G. Warnock, senior pastor at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church, one of the worship leaders said. "We need a surge in conscience and a surge in activism and a surge in truth-telling."
Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, sponsored an ecumenical coalition of denominational peace fellowship offices and faith-based organizations, took place in Washington, DC, and nearly 200 other cities and towns across the country this weekend.
The groups that make up Christian Peace Witness for Iraq make their convictions clear:
We are clear that the United States has a moral obligation to make a long-term commitment to work with the international community for the physical and human reconstruction of Iraq. Our conviction as followers of Jesus Christ, backed up by the assessment of many world leaders and many in our own military and intelligence agencies, is that the violence in Iraq will only begin to abate when Iraqis can see our clear commitment to end the war and pull back our troops. Along with the physical reconstruction of Iraq, we are equally concerned with the trauma, poverty, and orphaned children this war leaves behind. We are committed to the mending of relationships, support in healing, and the restoration of social services.Check out a sampling of the positive media coverage the event received:
Christians gather for anti-war protest
Activists brave weather to pray at White House
Iraq War Protesters March in Washington
Christians prepare for war protest
Rousing, Emotional Start for War Protest
Faith in Public Life has been honored to serve Christian Peace Witness' by providing strategic communications counsel and media outreach support.
