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The complete No Kings Interfaith Toolkit in one PDF - gathering guides, messaging resources, faith-rooted talking points, the Resistance Songbook, FAQs, and more. Download it or read the full contents below.
Download Full Toolkit (PDF)Authoritarian movements often rely on division to gain and maintain power. They scapegoat minorities, including religious minorities, deploy divide-and-conquer tactics, and attempt to fuse political authority with a narrow religious identity. These movements frequently undermine constitutional protections, attack critics and independent institutions, and spread mistrust between communities. In response, the interfaith community offers a different vision. When people of diverse faiths and beliefs stand together, we demonstrate that democracy and religious freedom are strengthened by pluralism, not threatened by it. Interfaith organizing helps expose attempts to exploit antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of hate for political gain while building bridges across communities and strengthening our shared commitment to freedom, dignity, and democratic values.
Interfaith movements are powerful because they combine two essential approaches to social change: bridge-building and activism. Bridge-building cultivates trust across communities and creates spaces where people feel they belong, while activism recruits and organizes people to advocate for democratic values and change unjust systems. Faith communities also influence many of society's key institutions - sometimes called the "pillars of support" - by shaping moral narratives, mobilizing communities, and providing trusted leadership during moments of democratic stress. Throughout history, faith communities have contributed to movements for justice and democratic freedom by bringing moral authority, community networks, and spiritual resilience to public life.
Within the No Kings mobilization, the interfaith community helps set the moral tone for the movement. When people of different faiths and beliefs stand together in public, we model pluralistic democracy in practice. By invoking the traditions, symbols, and values that guide our communities, we demonstrate that the struggle for democracy is also a moral and spiritual commitment. Our presence reminds the public that the vast majority of people of faith reject authoritarianism and instead support freedom, dignity, and democratic participation for all.
No Kings is interested in diverse voices from the interfaith community. If you or someone from your congregation, mosque, temple, or faith community would like to be considered for a speaking role at the rally, please complete the speaker intake form below. Speakers from all traditions are welcome.
Submit Speaker Intake FormInterfaith gatherings before or alongside No Kings III can take many forms – a simple circle of prayer in a parking lot, a brief service in a sanctuary, a faith walk to the rally site, or a moment of shared silence. The format is flexible; what matters is that people gather with intention before raising their voices together.
Plan your gathering to conclude in time to join the main rally. Options include: a pre-rally gathering at your house of worship, a gathering point along the march route, or a designated interfaith space at or near the rally. Coordinate with local organizers to determine the best timing and location for your community.
Reach out broadly – your own congregation, neighboring congregations of different traditions, local interfaith councils, campus religious groups, hospital chaplains, and community members who may not belong to a faith community but share the values of pluralism and democracy. The more diverse the gathering, the stronger the witness.
Frame the gathering as an act of bearing witness – showing up as people of faith who believe that democracy, human dignity, and pluralism are sacred values. Avoid framing it as partisan; instead, root it in shared spiritual commitments. The goal is to offer a moral grounding for the rally and to be visibly present as a faith community.
1. Welcome (2 min) – Brief opening by a faith leader or host, naming the occasion and the community's purpose in gathering. 2. Shared Reflection (5 min) – A short reading, poem, or scripture from one or more traditions that speaks to justice, dignity, or democracy. 3. Brief Testimony (3 min) – One or two community members share why they are showing up – what their faith calls them to do. 4. Lean Into Tradition (5 min) – A song, chant, prayer, or moment of silence drawn from the gathered traditions. 5. Transition to Rally (1 min) – A brief sending word: "We go now as people of faith. We go together."
Hindu: "Sarve bhavantu sukhinah" – May all beings be happy. The Hindu tradition reminds us that our liberation is bound together. No one is free until all are free.
Muslim: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." We gather because we love this democracy for our neighbors as we love it for ourselves.
Christian: "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." (Amos 5:24) We are called not to comfort, but to courage – to stand where justice demands.
Jewish: Tzedek, tzedek tirdof – "Justice, justice you shall pursue." (Deuteronomy 16:20) The repetition is not accidental. We are called to pursue justice relentlessly, even when – especially when – it is hard.
Use the messaging guide below to communicate with your community about the gathering. Reach out to your local No Kings III rally coordinators to let them know an interfaith contingent will be joining – they may be able to offer designated space or time at the microphone. Make your faith community's presence visible: wear stoles, carry banners, or bring signs that identify your tradition. Tag @intrfthalliance on social media when you post photos from your gathering and the rally.
The following messages and talking points are intended for use in sermons, op-eds, social media, and conversations with your communities. They are rooted in the shared values across faith traditions – human dignity, justice, pluralism, and the rule of law. Use them as starting points and adapt them to your own voice and tradition.
Every major religious tradition warns against the worship of false idols and the elevation of human leaders to divine status. When political leaders demand absolute loyalty, claim to be chosen by God, or position themselves above accountability, faith communities have both the right and the responsibility to name this for what it is: a spiritual danger. Our traditions teach us that only God is worthy of unconditional devotion.
Democracy is not merely a political system – it is a moral framework that reflects the dignity of every human being. When each person has a voice, when power is accountable, and when no one is above the law, we are living out the belief that every person bears inherent worth. Protecting democracy is a religious act.
The concentration of power, the silencing of dissent, the scapegoating of vulnerable communities – these are not just political problems. They are spiritual crises. Our traditions have seen this before. They have given us the language, the practices, and the courage to resist. The faith community's role in this moment is to name authoritarianism for what it is and to offer an alternative vision.
The rule of law – the principle that no person, regardless of wealth or power, is exempt from accountability – is foundational to both democratic governance and religious ethics. Our traditions teach that leaders are stewards, not sovereigns. They are accountable to the people they serve and to a higher moral order. When leaders act as though they are above the law, faith communities must speak.
Authoritarian movements thrive on division – on pitting communities against each other, exploiting fear of the other, and weaponizing religious and ethnic identity. The interfaith community's very existence is an act of resistance. When we stand together – across traditions, across differences – we embody the vision of a pluralistic democracy and demonstrate that our diversity is not a threat, but a gift.
Downloadable social media graphics and printable sign templates are available through the full toolkit. Suggested sign phrases and social media captions include:
- Faith Over Fear - People of Faith Resist - My Faith Demands Democracy - Tzedek, Tzedek: Justice, Justice - No False Idols - Let Justice Roll Down - We Are Not Afraid - Faith Unites, Authoritarianism Divides
"The Torah commands us 36 times to care for the stranger – more than any other commandment. We know what it means to be the stranger. When any community is scapegoated, targeted, or stripped of rights, Jewish tradition calls us to act. Tzedek, tzedek tirdof. Justice, justice, you shall pursue." (Deuteronomy 16:20)
"Jesus taught us that the greatest commandments are to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves. There is no neighbor exemption for people of different faiths, different origins, different political views. Christian witness in this moment is not silence – it is solidarity. We follow one who stood against the powers of his day and calls us to do the same."
"The Quran teaches: 'O humanity! We created you from a single pair, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may know one another.' (49:13) Islam calls us to recognize the unity of humanity beneath all our differences. Authoritarianism denies this unity. It survives by dividing us. Our presence here, together, is an act of faith."
"The Bhagavad Gita teaches that we must act righteously without attachment to the outcome. We do not show up today because we are guaranteed to win. We show up because dharma – right action – demands it. The Hindu understanding of ahimsa, non-violence, and of vasudhaiva kutumbakam, the world as one family, grounds our commitment to a just and pluralistic democracy."
"The Buddha taught that suffering arises from greed, hatred, and delusion. Authoritarianism is all three made into policy: greed for power, hatred of the other, and the delusion that one person or group deserves dominion over all. Buddhist teaching calls us to see clearly, to act compassionately, and to stand with those who suffer. We are here because metta – loving-kindness – has political consequences."
"Our first principle affirms the inherent worth and dignity of every person. That is not a liberal platitude – it is a theological claim that carries radical implications. If every person has inherent worth, then systems that strip people of rights, dignity, or safety are morally wrong. We are here because our principles are not decorative. They are demands."
"Humanism grounds ethics not in divine command, but in the recognition that human beings have the capacity to reason, to care for one another, and to build societies that reflect our shared dignity. Authoritarianism is an affront to that capacity. It infantilizes citizens, punishes dissent, and treats human beings as instruments of power. We are here because reason and compassion both demand it."
The Resistance Revival Chorus is a collective of women and non-binary singers dedicated to uplifting joyful resistance. These songs are offered for use at your interfaith gathering, along the march, and at the rally itself. Music has always been at the heart of movements for justice – it binds us together, sustains us when we are tired, and carries our message when words alone are not enough.
These songs come from the Black freedom movement, from contemporary resistance artists, and from the tradition of congregational singing. Some are call-and-response; some are round; some build in layers. All of them are accessible to non-singers. Print the lyrics, pass them out, and lead with confidence. The goal is not a perfect performance – it is a collective voice.
A cornerstone of the American civil rights movement, this song was sung at marches, in churches, and in jail cells. It asserts that the movement will not be stopped by fear, by force, or by the power of those who would rather we stay silent. It is a declaration, a promise, and an invitation.
Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round, Turn me 'round, turn me 'round, Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round, I'm gonna keep on walkin', keep on talkin', Marching up to freedom land. [Verse options – substitute for "nobody"]: Ain't gonna let no injustice turn me 'round... Ain't gonna let no hatred turn me 'round... Ain't gonna let no fear turn me 'round... Ain't gonna let no ruler turn me 'round...
Written by Annie Schlaefer. This song is an invitation to those who have been told that changing one's position is weakness. It reframes conviction as something living – something that grows when we encounter truth.
It's okay to change your mind, When you learn something new. It's okay to change your mind, When the truth comes shining through. We don't have to stay Where we were before, We can open up the door And walk through.
Written by Heidi Wilson. This song is for the moments when the work is hard, when the news is bad, and when we need to remind each other – and ourselves – that we are not alone. It is a song of mutual sustenance.
Hold on, hold on, Keep your eyes on the prize, Hold on. The only chain that we can stand Is the chain of hand in hand. Hold on, hold on, Keep your eyes on the prize, Hold on.
Traditional gospel song, popularized by Shirley Caesar. Joy is not naivety – it is resistance. This song insists that the movement is rooted in something deeper than anger or fear, something that cannot be taken away.
This joy that I have, The world didn't give it to me. This joy that I have, The world didn't give it to me. This joy that I have, The world didn't give it to me, The world didn't give it and the world can't take it away. [Verse options]: This love that I have... This hope that I have... This strength that I have...
Written by Abena Koomson-Davis. A call-and-response song that can be led by a single voice with the crowd responding. Simple to learn and powerful in a large group.
[Leader]: We want justice! [All]: We want justice! [Leader]: We want peace! [All]: We want peace! [Leader]: We want freedom! [All]: We want freedom! [Leader]: We won't stop! [All]: We won't stop! [Leader]: Until we get it! [All]: Until we get it! [Leader]: Until we get it! [All]: Until we get it!
Written by Bernice Johnson Reagon, founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock. Written as a tribute to Ella Baker, organizer, activist, and architect of SNCC. This song articulates the heart of movement work: we are not struggling for a hero to save us, but for the freedom to lead ourselves.
We who believe in freedom cannot rest, We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes. Until the killing of Black men, Black mothers' sons, Is as important as the killing of White men, White mothers' sons. That which touches me most is that I had a chance to work with people, Passing on to others that which was passed on to me. To me young people come first, they have the courage where we fail, And if I can but shed some light as they carry us through the gale. The older I get the better I know that the secret of my going on Is when the reins are in the hands of the young who dare to run against the storm. Not needing to clutch for power, not needing the light just to shine on me, I need to be one in the number as we stand against tyranny. We who believe in freedom cannot rest, We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes.
No. Anyone with a connection to a faith community – a lay leader, a board member, a longtime member, a young adult group organizer – can host a gathering. What matters is that you have a group of people who want to show up together and that you are willing to help coordinate the logistics. You don't need to be ordained to lead a song, read a scripture, or open a circle of prayer.
This is exactly what we hope for. Interfaith gatherings are strongest when they truly are interfaith – when multiple traditions are represented and when participants feel genuinely welcomed regardless of their background. If you have participants who are not religious, you can frame readings around shared values rather than specific theological language. A moment of silence is universally accessible. The goal is not doctrinal agreement, but shared commitment.
Have a simple backup plan. Identify a covered space in advance – a porch, a lobby, a nearby church or community center – where your group can gather briefly before heading to the rally. If the gathering needs to be shortened because of weather, focus on the essentials: a word of welcome, a song, and a sending. Rain does not cancel the witness. It just makes it more memorable.
The following resources are available to help you prepare for No Kings III. Download and share them with your community.
Before attending any demonstration, review your rights as a protester. This resource covers what to do if you are stopped by police, your rights at a public demonstration, and how to support fellow protesters.
Download Know Your Rights Resources (PDF)Peaceful demonstrations are most effective when participants understand de-escalation principles. This resource provides guidance on keeping gatherings peaceful, responding to provocations, and supporting community safety.
Download De-Escalation Rights and Resources (PDF)The complete Interfaith Toolkit PDF contains all of the content on this page in a printable format, plus additional graphics and resources for sharing with your community.
Download the Complete Interfaith Toolkit (PDF)