Love was the first motion

For generations, Friends have turned to the words of 18th century Quaker abolitionist John Woolman for guidance in times of moral crisis. “Love was the first motion,” Woolman wrote—reminding us that action must rise not from fear or anger, but from love. 

That same motion is drawing Friends and people of conscience into public squares, parks, and downtowns across the country as part of Love as Action, a nationwide series of monthly silent witnesses organized by Quakers and supported by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). Since December, 15 communities have taken part, gathering in public worship to affirm justice and dignity and to challenge the rising tide of authoritarianism in the United States.

As authoritarianism rises and more communities stand together in loving opposition, Friends are inviting others to join them, by attending a vigil or organizing one in their own community. As we move forward, we invited two organizers to reflect on what brought them into this work, and why this moment needs a witness rooted in love. 

For Brian Corr, a member of Friends Meeting at Cambridge and AFSC board member, the call to host a vigil came with hesitation. 

“I have way too much on my plate,” he said with a laugh. “I actually have a support committee, and half of their job is to tell me ‘no.’” 

But the idea of a simple, grounded, public witness spoke to a deep need he saw among Friends. So he chose a park, created an event through the AFSC website, sent out two emails, and waited. 

By Saturday morning, 20 people had signed up. On the cold, snowy day itself, 40 Friends and community members arrived. 

What struck Brian most was the hunger for connection across meetings. “People said they had been trying for years to bring together Friends from different meetings in the area—and this spontaneous opportunity made it happen,” he said. Friends came from Cambridge, Beacon Hill, Fresh Pond, and Wellesley, gathering in a circle for worship and witness. 

To Brian, Love as Action echoes Woolman’s call to root everything in love. 

“It’s not just something you do or receive,” he said. “It’s a way of being. Our actions should come out of that place of loving each other, loving those who suffer, and even loving those who perpetrate harm. It honors that spark of the Divine in every person.” 

In a time when public life is dominated by fear and dehumanization, Brian sees these vigils as a counternarrative: “There’s such a need to push back against the idea that people don’t matter. Love as Action offers hope. It helps us remember abundance, dignity, and that of God in everyone.” 

His advice to someone unsure about hosting a vigil? “Just put out the call. Whoever shows up are the right people.”

For Ross Brubeck, an attender of Brooklyn Meeting and organizer of the Quaker Walk to Washington, Love as Action creates a space he’d never experienced before, even in the familiar heart of New York City. 

The Union Square vigil, he said, “feels like a new place to me. I’ve never existed in that part of the city in that way, in public ministry, in public worship.” 

Passersby stop. Some feel moved to speak, offering spontaneous ministry. Some join the circle. Some simply stand, drawn by something they can sense is different. 

“There’s an urge in a lot of folks to engage with it,” Ross said. “People recognize that something unusual is happening. Something rooted in love.” 

For Ross, these vigils are a response to a deep spiritual instinct, the need to act out of love rather than fear. 

“In this moment of rising authoritarianism, fear wins out very often,” he reflected. “But love exists alongside fear. Love remains—and it will be revealed if we act upon it.” 

The simplicity of the action is part of its power. 
 
“It’s easier than you imagine,” Ross said. “It’s just a matter of stepping forward. You don’t know what will happen until you move toward it—in faith.” 

Across experiences, one truth emerged clearly: this moment calls for a faith-rooted public witness. 

As Brian put it, authoritarian forces today are not only attacking policies or rights—they are attacking people’s basic humanity. And in response, Friends are called to model a different world: one grounded not in fear, scarcity, or dominance, but in love, dignity, and the abundance that comes when communities care for one another. 

Love as Action witnesses are not protests against something—they are affirmations for something: for the dignity of every person; for justice rooted in community; for hope that counters despair; for the belief that love can guide social transformation. 

They are, in Woolman’s words, actions in which “love is the first motion.” 

Join with AFSC and Friends in communities across the country February 21-22 as we gather again in public witness to show Love as Action.