DC Vigils Against Racism

We invite people from all religious communities—and our neighbors—to join us in bearing witness to the love that grounds us as people of faith and good will. The plan is to cover as much of 16th NW as possible, although everyone is welcome to hold vigil on major streets in their own neighborhood (if you’re doing one in your neighborhood, let us know and we’ll list it below). Please wear masks and stay 6 feet apart. If your intended location is taken, simply move to an open area. Please bring a sign. These vigils are rain or shine. Please stay out of the roads and do not block the sidewalks (both of which will attract police attention). And please show respect to all other people, regardless of their perspective, and avoid confrontation and violence

This is a decentralized action. There is no program other than 45 minutes of public vigil and then silent witness starting at 5:45 when participating institutions toll their bells for 8 minutes and 46 seconds—the amount of time the officer’s knee was on George Floyd’s neck. If you are not near a bell tolling, you can go to the All Souls Church website, https://all-souls.org, for an audio file of the bell tolling (recorded at a vigil June 2), or simply use a timer and be silent. At the end of 8:46, we invite you to pray or meditate, either silently or out loud, on your commitment to ending racism.

RSVP via Facebook or Google Form to get updates on plans and resources. If you’re adding your organization as a participant, please email Rev. Rob Keithan at All Souls Church Unitarian, rkeithan@allsouls.ws.

Additional locations besides 16th Street NW:
Connecticut Avenue @ Quebec Street NW
Michigan Avenue in Brookland

The 38 Participating Organizations:

All Souls Church Unitarian
Augustana Lutheran Church
Bet Mishpachah
Calvary Baptist Church
Christ Lutheran Church
Cleveland Park Congregational UCC
Congregation Action Network
Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries
Edlavitch DCJCC
Eighth Day Faith Community
Emory Fellowship
Fabrangen Havurah
Fellowship Baptist Church
The Festival Center
First Baptist Church
First Congregational UCC
First Trinity Lutheran Church
Foundry United Methodist Church
Grace Lutheran Church
Iglesia Cristiana Nacional (Discípulos de Cristo)
Minyan Segulah
National City Christian Church
New Synagogue Project
Nineteenth Street Baptist
Ohev Sholom – The National Synagogue
Peoples Congregational UCC
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Sixth Presbyterian Church
Silver Spring United Methodist Church
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
St. Mary’s Baptist Church
St. Matthews DC
St. Stephen & the Incarnation Episcopal Church
Tifereth Israel Congregation
Tikkun Leil Shabbat
Universalist National Memorial Church
Washington DC Baha’i Center
Washington Ethical Society
Zion Baptist Church