Dear Friend,
Over the past five months, more than 31,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza. AFSC has mobilized people across the U.S. to call for a permanent cease-fire, an end to U.S. military funding for Israel, a release of hostages held in Gaza and prisoners held in Israeli jails, and greater humanitarian access to Gaza. Please join us every Friday at 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT for our Action Hour for a Cease-fire Now.
On March 7, AFSC staff, including General Secretary Joyce Ajlouny, took part in an act of mass civil disobedience outside the president's State of the Union address. “We are taking this action because stopping a genocide requires radical nonviolent and relentless action,” Joyce said. Read more in this press release and Common Dreams story.
Here are more ways you can engage with AFSC, plus a few updates on our work:
An update from AFSC’s staff in Rafah: Over 1.5 million people are currently displaced in Rafah as Israel plans for a ground invasion of the small border city. Despite being displaced themselves, AFSC staff in Rafah have helped to distribute aid to more than 250,000 people in the area. Read more from Gaza staff member Serena Awad. Pendle Hill’s Executive Director Francisco Javier Burgos dedicated this poem to AFSC’s staff living and working in Gaza. Francisco's poem is a reminder of the meaning of solidarity and the importance of standing together in the face of injustice. With our voices united in a call for peace, we will continue to advocate for the rights and freedoms of Palestinians. Read the full poem here.
Webinar: Stopping border militarization (March 26, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT): Join AFSC to hear from our New Hampshire and U.S. Mexico Border programs about AFSC's longstanding work to stop the militarization of borders. Staff will explore the conditions facing migrants and border communities, the dramatic differences between the Mexico and Canadian borderlands, and our vision to ensure that migrants and immigrants are treated with dignity and respect. Register here.
A Conversation with Jose Antonio Vargas: AFSC Corporation Program 2024 (April 12, 7 p.m. ET): AFSC is delighted to host Jose Antonio Vargas as our keynote speaker for the 2024 Corporation Program. Jose is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, Tony-nominated theatrical producer, and a leading voice for the human rights of immigrants. He is the founder of Define American, an organization that promotes diverse and nuanced storytelling about immigrant experiences across a variety of different media. Register here.
Pendle Hill Quaker Institute 2024 (May 2 – 5): Pendle Hill invites Friends to learn, vision, worship, and break bread together as we prepare for the 2024 election. Friends will gather for three days in spiritually rich community toand reflect on the responsibilities of our communities in these changing times. Brian Blackmore, AFSC’s director of Quaker engagement, and Lina Blount, Director of Earth Action Team will be hosting the session “ Quaker Action for a More Just and Sustainable World. Learn more and register here.
Quakers today podcast: AFSC is sponsoring season three of the “Quakers Today” podcast, which features musicians, writers, and others who seek wisdom and understanding in a rapidly changing world. The most recent podcast features reflections on the season two guests and announcements of the third season of the Quakers Today podcast. Learn more and listen to the latest episode here.
Meeting for Worship with Attention to Peace in Palestine and Israel: Please join us every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. PT as we worship with Friends from across the U.S. You are welcome to share this invitation with members of your Meeting and communities.
And don’t forget to follow AFSC on social media!: Stay up to date on upcoming events and ways to take action by joining us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Thank you for your continued support of AFSC’s work and all that you do in working for a more just and peaceful world!
Blessings,
Sofia Di Pietro
Quaker Engagement Coordinator
P.S. You can find more ways to get involved at our Friends Engage page. And as always, feel free to contact me with questions or comments at friends@afsc.org.