Sojourners Organizes More Than 800 Vigils in All 50 States
WASHINGTON, March 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands are expected to convene
this weekend in churches, town halls and on street corners across the country
for a series of more than 800 vigils to mourn and honor the lives lost in the
war with Iraq. The nationwide vigils are being organized by Sojourners -- a
leading peace and justice organization in the progressive faith community
since 1971 -- with the support of local activists and MoveOn.Org, True
Majority, Working Assets, and numerous other national grassroots and faith-
based organizations.
"The overwhelming response to this vigil effort across the country further
demonstrates that people of faith and conscience are both mourning the human
cost of this war and stand united in their urgent demand for peace," remarked
Jim Wallis, author of the best-selling God's Politics: Why the Right Gets it
Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get it and Executive Director of Sojourners. The
call for vigils, initiated by Sojourners, has now been distributed to more
than 5 million constituents of Sojourners' partner organizations.
In addition to the aforementioned organizations, the campaign has been
promoted and endorsed by Faithful America, Pax Christi USA, the National
Council of Churches, Mother Jones, Evangelicals for Social Action, Women's
Action for New Directions, and Fellowship of Reconciliation -- all of whom
have encouraged their members to attend vigils, to gather together in prayer
and remembrance, and to advocate for lasting peace and security in Iraq.
Since March 19, 2003, more than 1500 U.S. soldiers have been killed, along
with tens of thousands of Iraqis. U.S. citizens have also suffered on the home
front, as crucial domestic programs that benefit low-income families have been
threatened and the already-ballooning national deficit has swelled to
compensate for the cost of war, which has been estimated at over $156 billion.
Vigils are being organized in various ways around the country, from quiet
prayer services to public demonstrations. Vigil goers in Juneau, Alaska, will
gather to hear a bagpipe lament and the remarks of veterans. Des Moines, Iowa
will see a Palm Sunday Procession for Peace. A litany for peace will be read
by clergy at the United Nations, and the Illinois State Capitol will be the
gathering place for Springfield residents seeking peace.
Susan Keith, organizer of a vigil in Decatur, GA, describes the purpose of
the vigil "to have people gather together and remember all those who have
died. I think people forget about all the people who have died over there,
because they're busy doing what they need to do to get by. Hopefully this
vigil will make people passing by pause and think, and we hope they'll join
in."
For more information and a list of organized vigils by city, visit
http://www.sojo.net.
About Sojourners
Sojourners, http://www.sojo.net, is a Christian ministry whose mission is
to proclaim and practice the biblical call to integrate spiritual renewal and
social justice.
CONTACT: Katherine S. Paarlberg of Sojourners, +1-202-328-8842, ext. 249,
or kpaarlberg@sojo.net.
SOURCE Sojourners
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Related links:
http://www.sojo.net
CONTACT:
Katherine S. Paarlberg of Sojourners,
+1-202-328-8842, ext. 249, or kpaarlberg@sojo.net
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