AFSC
CHICAGO (August 16, 2024) – As thousands of people come to Chicago for the Democratic National Convention, an interfaith vigil is planned for Tuesday evening in remembrance of the 40,000+ people who have been killed in Gaza. The vigil is being organized by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a Quaker organization with staff in Gaza that has worked for decades to end Israeli occupation and apartheid in Palestine.
WHAT: Interfaith vigil to honor those who have been killed in the genocide in Gaza, to highlight the urgent need for a permanent ceasefire and an end to U.S. weapons sales to Israel.
WHO: Speakers include Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faith leaders, as well as people whose loved ones have been killed. The event is organized by the American Friends Service Committee.
WHEN: Tuesday August 20 at 7pm CT
WHERE: Montrose Beach Harbor, 601 W. Montrose Drive in Chicago
VISUALS: Hundreds of people with votive candles and Palestinian flags
The vigil takes place just a week after the Biden Administration approved another $20 billion in arms sales to Israel, even as the Israeli military escalates its air strikes on schools, shelters, and hospitals. “The devastation and cruelty enacted on Palestinians is staggering, and it is being paid for with U.S. tax dollars,” said Jennifer Bing, Director of AFSC’s Palestine Activism Program. “We are gathering together to mourn for the dead and to strengthen our resolve as we again call on our elected leaders to end this genocide.”
The vigil is one of several events AFSC is engaging in during the week of the DNC. AFSC is also part of the coalition organizing the March on the DNC, and has been organizing against war and violence in Chicago for decades. Learn more at https://afsc.org/afsc-dnc
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The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) promotes a world free of violence, inequality, and oppression. Guided by the Quaker belief in the divine light within each person, we nurture the seeds of change and the respect for human life to fundamentally transform our societies and institutions. We work with people and partners worldwide, of all faiths and backgrounds, to meet urgent community needs, challenge injustice, and build peace.