Advocacy
Hear From Our Interns: Good Trouble Lives On National Day of Action
On July 17, Good Trouble Lives On national day of action, Interfaith Alliance staff joined forces with Faithful Democracy to advocate for voting rights on Capitol Hill. Good Trouble Lives On national day of action honors John Lewis on the anniversary of his passing, recognizing the Congressman’s tireless effort in advancing civil rights and voting rights to the United States.
Together, Interfaith Alliance staff, alongside community members, spread the word to various members of congress about key legislation that promotes an accessible vote for all. This includes the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, The SWIFT VOTE Act, and a package of eleven bills introduced by Representative Nakima Williams, all which work towards a healthy, inclusive, and faithful democracy.
Hear from our Summer interns on how the day went!
Talia Jacobsohn, Marketing intern:
I had a great time working with fellow DMV community members on Capitol Hill to distribute information on key voting rights legislation to various House offices. It was encouraging to see how receptive many representatives' offices were to speaking to us and supporting the various pieces of legislation. I particularly enjoyed stopping into Representative Williams’ office and telling her staffers about the work we were doing in advocating for her package of bills!
Valli Pendyala, Organizing intern:
Last Thursday, I had the incredible opportunity to advocate for important voting rights legislation on Capitol Hill. It was incredible to see the large community of volunteers that took time out of their day to speak for these issues. I particularly enjoyed talking with representatives’ offices about their legislative priorities and the need to put voting rights at the top of their lists.
Gauri Girirajan, Policy intern:
Last Thursday, I was happy to join my fellow interns, volunteers, and coalition partners to lobby for important voting rights legislation on Capitol Hill. We stopped by a variety of offices and met with congressional staggers to fight against voter suppression across the aisle. It was particularly gratifying to hear our dedicated volunteers share their personal stories as to why voting rights are so crucial to our democracy.
The views and beliefs expressed in this post and all Interfaith Alliance blogs are those held by the author of each respective piece. To learn more about the organizational views, policies and positions of Interfaith Alliance on any issues, please contact info@interfaithalliance.org.
Transcript
Department of Education Gets Patriotism Wrong
Interfaith Alliance, together with major religious organizations committed to religious freedom and education, has submitted a formal comment to the U.S. Department of Education opposing the proposed priority and definitions on promoting patriotic education.
Moral Courage in Action: Faith Communities Confront Executive Overreach
This June, the Trump administration deployed the National Guard to California following widespread protests against a series of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across the city; protesters stood in solidarity with immigrant communities and voiced opposition to mass deportation. Executive overreach under the guise of making communities “safer” threatens the freedom and safety of protesters and distorts democratic norms. In August, the administration further displayed overreach by deploying National Guard troops and quelling protests in Washington, D.C. In September, the administration announced that Portland, Oregon, would be the next city to have troops mobilized in its community. In response, faith communities, along with their partners, have not relented and are pushing back in defense of immigrant rights and the integrity of our democracy.
Interfaith Solidarity with LDS Communities
These past few weeks have been some of the hardest for our partners in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). On September 27th, LDS Church President Russell M. Nelson passed away at the age of 101. President Nelson served as the Church’s 17th president and was a leader in promoting deep partnerships during a trying time in the Church’s history, including with other faith communities. We extend our deepest condolences to members of the LDS Church and wish them comfort as they mourn the passing of such an important leader.