Dear Person of Faith,
We are leaders of faith communities in the greater Portland/Vancouver area, inviting you to join us for visible People of Faith presence at the Portland No Kings rally and march on Saturday, October 18th. We are coordinating with local Indivisible groups to harmoniously support and participate in the larger event.
Given the rise of Christian nationalism that is fueling the growing autocracy of our times, it is critical that this national No Kings event has a strong, visible, and diverse interfaith presence to demonstrate disciplined nonviolent resistance. One of the keynote speakers for the Portland event will be Dr. Rev. Mark Knutson, a longtime activist and faith leader in the local nonviolent resistance movement.
Together, as a united community of interfaith leaders, we will march under a large “People of Faith” banner. Clergy are invited to wear religious attire and others are invited to identify themselves with signs, banners, or whatever is appropriate for your tradition. Citizens in our country and others around the world must know that there are millions of people of faith working in a multitude of ways: To love and care for the poorest, most vulnerable people in our land, to create a more just and peaceful society, and to preserve a free and open democracy.
10:30am: People of faith will gather at 10:30am at Pioneer Courthouse Square near a purple pillar-like banner reading FAITH for a short interfaith program and service.
11:20am: We march together behind a People of Faith: Standing Up for Compassion, Truth, and Justice banner to the Battleship Memorial on Waterfront Park
Noon: Large No Kings event (speakers, music, etc.) at the Battleship Memorial on Waterfront Park
1:00 pm: March through the streets of downtown. Faith leaders and people of faith will enter the march together behind the vertical banner identifying us, and individual faith communities can bring their own horizontal banners.
This is a very difficult time in the life of our country. But there is so much we can do to turn this nightmare around. We want this No Kings march to truly be a celebration of all the many people and groups working to resist this growing autocracy—including the local faith community.
Please pray for this march and for all who are on the front lines organizing for peace, justice, and American democracy, and RSVP for this event so we can estimate numbers and keep you updated on the details (see form below).
Rev. June Boutwell, Pastor, Ainsworth United Church of Christ
Rev. Domyo Burk, Priest and Guiding Teacher, Bright Way Zen Center
Rabbi Michael Z. Cahana, Senior Rabbi, Congregation Beth Israel
Rev. Patricia Campbell-Schmitt, Pastor Emeriti, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
Rev. Dr. Chuck Currie, Ordained Minister, United Church of Christ
Marilyn Grendele, Chair of Social Justice, Cedar Hills United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. W.J. Knutson, Pastor, Augustana Lutheran Church
Kakumyo Lowe, Abbot, Dharma Rain Zen Center
Frank J. So, Executive Director, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Cantor Ida Rae Cahana, Cantor Emerita, Congregation Beth Israel
Rev. Peg Pfab, Ordained Minister, United Church of Christ
We are leaders of faith communities in the greater Portland/Vancouver area, inviting you to join us for visible People of Faith presence at the Portland No Kings rally and march on Saturday, October 18th. We are coordinating with local Indivisible groups to harmoniously support and participate in the larger event.
Given the rise of Christian nationalism that is fueling the growing autocracy of our times, it is critical that this national No Kings event has a strong, visible, and diverse interfaith presence to demonstrate disciplined nonviolent resistance. One of the keynote speakers for the Portland event will be Dr. Rev. Mark Knutson, a longtime activist and faith leader in the local nonviolent resistance movement.
Together, as a united community of interfaith leaders, we will march under a large “People of Faith” banner. Clergy are invited to wear religious attire and others are invited to identify themselves with signs, banners, or whatever is appropriate for your tradition. Citizens in our country and others around the world must know that there are millions of people of faith working in a multitude of ways: To love and care for the poorest, most vulnerable people in our land, to create a more just and peaceful society, and to preserve a free and open democracy.
10:30am: People of faith will gather at 10:30am at Pioneer Courthouse Square near a purple pillar-like banner reading FAITH for a short interfaith program and service.
11:20am: We march together behind a People of Faith: Standing Up for Compassion, Truth, and Justice banner to the Battleship Memorial on Waterfront Park
Noon: Large No Kings event (speakers, music, etc.) at the Battleship Memorial on Waterfront Park
1:00 pm: March through the streets of downtown. Faith leaders and people of faith will enter the march together behind the vertical banner identifying us, and individual faith communities can bring their own horizontal banners.
This is a very difficult time in the life of our country. But there is so much we can do to turn this nightmare around. We want this No Kings march to truly be a celebration of all the many people and groups working to resist this growing autocracy—including the local faith community.
Please pray for this march and for all who are on the front lines organizing for peace, justice, and American democracy, and RSVP for this event so we can estimate numbers and keep you updated on the details (see form below).
Rev. June Boutwell, Pastor, Ainsworth United Church of Christ
Rev. Domyo Burk, Priest and Guiding Teacher, Bright Way Zen Center
Rabbi Michael Z. Cahana, Senior Rabbi, Congregation Beth Israel
Rev. Patricia Campbell-Schmitt, Pastor Emeriti, St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
Rev. Dr. Chuck Currie, Ordained Minister, United Church of Christ
Marilyn Grendele, Chair of Social Justice, Cedar Hills United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. W.J. Knutson, Pastor, Augustana Lutheran Church
Kakumyo Lowe, Abbot, Dharma Rain Zen Center
Frank J. So, Executive Director, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Cantor Ida Rae Cahana, Cantor Emerita, Congregation Beth Israel
Rev. Peg Pfab, Ordained Minister, United Church of Christ
Note: GreenFaith Wy'East has generously offered to host this announcement page. The Interfaith event is a collaboration between many faith groups and liaisons with Indivisible.
