Dear Friend,
AFSC's Apartheid-Free Coalition formed in 2022 as a network of communities around the globe who have pledged to work together to end Israeli apartheid. Today, over 1,300 communities have taken the pledge to be Apartheid-Free. These include faith-based communities and congregations, businesses, municipalities, solidarity organizations, educational groups, political parties, and more. Among them are 77 Quaker meetings, churches, and organizations.
Since December 2024, representatives from the Quaker Apartheid-Free communities have been gathering monthly to strategize and discern collective action. At these convenings, Friends give updates about what actions their community is taking, share resources with one another, and make plans to grow their collective impact. The group has also developed resources to support Friends communities in their process of joining the coalition.
If your community is looking for ways to act in solidarity with the Palestinian people, I highly recommend taking the pledge to become an Apartheid-Free community. Together we are building an anti-apartheid movement to take a stand against military occupation, settler colonialism, and apartheid. I hope you will join us.
Here are some more ways to engage with AFSC, plus a few updates on our work:
October Quaker Liaison Call (Tuesday, October 27 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT): AFSC liaisons regularly share updates about AFSC’s work in their communities and mobilize Friends to take action. On our October call, liaisons are invited to hear from Rick Wilson, AFSC's Director of Economic Justice, and Lida Shepherd, Director of AFSC 's West Virginia Economic Justice Project. Join us to learn more about candidate and voter engagement with a bird-dogging training. Bird-dogging is a tried-and-true tactic for letting people in power know what issues matter most to your community, finding out where candidates stand, and drawing public attention to an issue that is important to you. Register today!
The true cost of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA): OBBBA was passed by Congress in 2025 as one of the Trump administration’s signature policy efforts. The law made historic cuts to resources that provide access to nutritious food and quality healthcare for millions of Americans. At the same time, it pours billions of dollars into Pentagon spending and funding for ICE. The impacts of this law have already started to take effect, but other harmful provisions are still to come. This moment also presents an opening, as a new Congress will take office in January. Read more and take action!
Call for AFSC Governance Volunteers: AFSC's Standing Nominating Committee is looking for Friends who may be interested in serving on AFSC's Board of Directors and/or its supporting committees for consideration towards April 2027 nominations and beyond. Learn more and recommend someone for service.
Values-Based Financial Planning with AFSC (Thursday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT): Do you want to make sure your values are incorporated into your estate and retirement planning? Join AFSC on October 29 to learn about ways you can support AFSC and other organizations that are important to you through your retirement plans. All ages are welcome and encouraged to attend this webinar. Register today!
Why We Record: Defying Fragmentation and Erasure in Palestine: In collaboration with Visualizing Palestine, AFSC has curated a joint downloadable exhibit that brings together visuals, archival photos, and stories to chronicle the Palestinian struggle for liberation. The exhibit invites visitors to witness the truths of the past, the heartbreak of the present, and the possibilities of the future. AFSC Quaker Engagement has printed copies of the exhibit available for loan to Quaker communities. To learn more about hosting the exhibit, reach out to friends@afsc.org.
QUAKER COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: Friends from Beacon Hill Meeting in Boston have been organizing a monthly worship at the ICE Field Office in Burlington, Massachusetts. In an article for Friends Journal, Minga Claggett-Borne shares about her experiences protesting through song, care packages, and prayer at these vigils, saying “Worshiping outside, I connect to a power much greater than guns. The web of life dissolves my dismay. God’s power, the Ocean of Light, is palpable. Abolishing ICE is about presence, not absence.” READ MORE
Meeting for Worship with attention to peace: Please join us online every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT as we worship with Friends from across the U.S.
Protect, Resist, and Build with AFSC: This monthly webinar series brings together AFSC supporters to learn about how to protect our communities, resist authoritarianism, and build peace with justice. Join us on the third Tuesday of every month at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
You are also invited to attend our weekly Action Hour for Palestine, every Friday at 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT. Hear updates from AFSC staff and take collective action by contacting our elected officials.
Thank you for your continued support of AFSC and all you do to create a more just and peaceful world!
With care,
Ainsley Bruton (they/them)
Quaker Engagement Coordinator
P.S. You're always welcome to contact the Quaker Engagement team at friends@afsc.org with any questions, comments, or concerns.
And stay up to date on upcoming events and ways to take action by joining us on Facebook, Bluesky, and Instagram.