Across the nation, people of all backgrounds, identities, and faiths have been coming together in peaceful protest to advocate for the rule of law and the appropriate care for the “other.” On April 5 th , the Hughes’, the Olmsteds, the Tlustys, and Pastor Doug joined the tens of thousands of others in the rally on the National Mall. We trust there were others from our Peace community in that sea of humanity. While we all attended independently, we were united in spirit and in our Lutheran belief that good government is a gift from God, in which we are called to participate to advance the well-being of all. Many attendees carried signs or wore t-shirts conveying their convictions, including (among many others):
- Public service is a “value, not a crime”
- Many recent Executive Orders are inconsistent with true Christian (and historical American) values
- Opposition to infringement on civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, due process, and the like
Our favorite sign asked, “What would Jesus say?” and included passages from Matthew Chapter 25 and Luke Chapters 4 and 10. Turns out the sign holder was a fellow Lutheran. We walked for a long time among the throng and were struck by how peaceful, respectful, and helpful to one another the participants were. The assemblage included adults, seniors, children, veterans, disabled individuals, and others of all ethnicities – all of them exercising and expressing their 1st Amendment right to speak up and speak out. It was wonderful to witness! It was a day of hope and a vivid reminder that we are not alone in these challenging and turbulent times.
Again, on May 3rd , Charlie and Judy joined a “Hands Off Our History” rally in support of our shared history and the African-American History Museum in particular. Once again, thousands of people of all stripes rallied, listened and learned, prayed, marched, chanted, and gathered to insist our great Nation’s true and accurate story be told. Among the many themed signs, we saw support for:
- Freedom to Learn
- Black History IS American History
- Hands Off Our History
- When Black Americans Thrive, the Entire Nation Prospers
- United We Stand in Compassion and Love.
We began with prayer led by a Black pastor on the steps of DC’s Wilson Building (the Mayor’s Office) followed by numerous rally speakers. As the crowd began to overwhelm the area, it began its march toward and around the nearby African-American History Museum. We all chanted and waved signs, accepted the thumbs-ups from tourists on the streets and the supportive honks of cars along the path. The group ended on a rise opposite the museum where a closing prayer encouraged all of us to continue to speak out for the truth and to resist those who might wish to “whitewash” our history.
