Our first stop on our Pilgrimage for Peace will be at the local post office where we will mail letters to our congressional leaders. You can use this link to find your representative.
Please come with your letter already written and addressed in a stamped envelope.
Click here to download a sample letter. You may choose to to use this letter exactly "as is" or adapt it with your own language. You can also copy and paste from the text below.
March 29, 2024
Dear Representative ____,
I am writing to you as an individual participating in a Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage this weekend with my local community in Arlington, TX. As we walk 2.5 miles through downtown Arlington representing the 25 miles of the Gaza Strip, our first stop is to mail this letter, which was prayed over as it was dropped into the mailbox at the local US Post Office.
As people of faith, we join our ecumenical partners and voices around the world in decrying the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and calling on our government officials to support a permanent ceasefire. We appreciate and support the recent resolution brought to the United Nations by the U.S. calling for a ceasefire.
We condemn the violent attacks by Hamas on October 7 that killed over 1200 Israelis.
We condemn the Israeli government’s large-scale invasion of hospitals, homes, schools, mosques, and houses of worship – resulting in the deaths of over 30,000 Palestinians.
We condemn the Israeli government’s cutting off water, electricity, gas, and humanitarian aid to those in Gaza.
We condemn anti-Palestinian, antisemitic, and anti-Muslim rhetoric and the rising hate crimes against these groups.
Since 1948 we’ve witnessed the continual oppression of the Palestinian people and occupation of their land. Today, we witness the violation of international law as Palestinians in the West Bank are attacked, forced to flee, refused humanitarian aid, and killed. This is not a war. This is genocide. This is ethnic cleansing. We cannot turn away.
We demand a permanent ceasefire.
We demand an immediate flow of life-saving food, water, aid, fuel, and humanitarian assistance.
We demand the release of all hostages – both the Israeli hostages held by Hamas and the Palestinian hostages held in the Israeli prison system.
We demand an end to occupation so a just peace can begin.
Please act swiftly and with moral courage,
Sincerely,
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