UU Santa Monica has been a strong supporter of #InterfaithMarchLA since its inception in 2016, when religious leaders in greater LA came together to create an event that would counter increasing hateful rhetoric against religious minorities. Every year, clergy and members from numerous communities and identities — “every faith, philosophy and creed” — come together to walk for freedom of worship, to build stronger connections between local faith groups, and to rebuke all bigotry and violence.
A particularly important purpose of the march is to be in solidarity with our Jewish and Muslim neighbors who are most often targeted with vandalism and violence. Disturbingly, hate crimes in the U.S. were already at their highest level in decades before the October 7th attack on Israel and the subsequent war against Gaza, which have created a climate of even greater fear.
The march begins at St. Basil’s Catholic Church on Wilshire Blvd. (near Western Ave.) and proceeds east for approximately one mile, stopping at Immanuel Presbyterian Church and the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial, before ending at the Islamic Center of Southern California on Vermont. Speakers from diverse traditions are featured briefly along the route. This year, the event will conclude with a panel discussion on Israel and Gaza at the ICSC.
The Interfaith Solidarity March is organized by the Institute for Religious Tolerance, Peace & Justice, a nonprofit founded by Dr L. Arik Greenberg, professor of theology at Loyola Marymount University. It is open to all individuals and groups who endorse its mission.
You can read about and view video of last year’s march here: UUSM Marches for Religious Tolerance, Peace & Justice.
Please join us for a fun and meaningful afternoon and help us to make this important event a continuing success! Free parking is available at St. Basil’s. We will carpool and/or plan rideshares from UUSM, leaving right after Coffee Hour on Sunday, June 2nd, and also organize rides back for those who need them.
Please email fia@uusm.org to let us know if you need a ride.
