As foreign tensions arise in the Middle East and immigration crackdowns of ICE continue in the U.S., protesters rallied across the nation on Saturday, March 28. This includes nearly 2,000 protesters who marched down the streets of Ithaca. These protests were a continuation of the No Kings movement to oppose the Trump administration and the threat of rising authoritarianism.
Faith and political expression
Prior to the No Kings Rally, community members from a variety of religious practices came together at the First Baptist Church of Ithaca to express their political values through religion and song.
“The forces that bring us together this evening are troubling and sad, but otherwise, I’m happy to see you all,” said Rev. Debbie Reynolds in her opening speech.
Different faiths, the same hopes
The event, organized by local faith leaders, featured short presentations from religions such as Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Unitarianism. These groups all came together to share about the higher powers they believe in.
Lutheran Chaplain Jason Churchill concluded the event with a prayer. “Tonight we may all call upon god by different names, but we pray for the same thing,” he said. “Peace, nonviolence, hope, and love.”
Faith leaders shared prayers, poems, and readings, with music provided by a local division of the national organization Singing Resistance. The Ithaca Interfaith Clergy and Leader Group was created at the start of the war in Ukraine and has hosted several events since then.
A group of five candles was placed on the left side of the sanctuary and were lit as each faith leader shared about their beliefs.
Singing Resistance
Following the January killing of Renee Good by ICE in Minneapolis, a national organization called Singing Resistance has been formed to share hope and unity through song. Singing Resistance has a local group in Ithaca who attended the vigil and the No Kings rally on Saturday. The group is grounded in love, non-violence, and solidarity.
“We can literally bring our voices together at least in song,” said Elisa Keeler, a local singer with Singing Resistance. “We can march together, and we can protest together. There’s a hope that comes when we gather in community and realize that we have a shared value in peace.”
Churchill also reflected on the importance of community during his closing remarks stating, “we do have to have community, and this shows what community could look like. This shows how we could all come together and not be all the same.”
Ithaca takes part in nationwide rally
On Saturday, these religious groups met outside in between the First Presbyterian Church and the First Baptist Church prior to the nationwide no kings rally. Singing Resistance also attended the rally this Saturday, where they continued their mission of spreading hope and unity.
“I’m ready for Saturday . . . I’ve got my energy going, I feel blessed, I feel protected,” said Jackson Robinson, an attendee from a Methodist church.
