No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings.
Rise up with us for No Kings II, 10/18We began day seven of The Vote is Sacred Tour in Cleveland. We partnered with the NAACP of Cleveland and Greater Cleveland Congregations on a Souls to the Polls block party across the street from the one voting center in the county on the last day of early voting in Ohio. It was shocking to see such a long line of people waiting to vote, but their determination to make their voice heard was inspiring. We helped ensure that voters felt encouraged as they waited and celebrated for playing their part in democracy.
After the block party in Cleveland, we boarded the bus and headed to Pittsburgh to start the final stretch of the bus tour in Pennsylvania. After traveling through Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, our team was relieved and grateful to reach the final state.
In Pittsburgh, we partnered with Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network to hold a press conference at Pittsburgh Mennonite Church. They had spent the afternoon canvassing neighborhoods to get out the vote, and our press conference put a spotlight on this important work. We heard from Rev. Dave Swanson, Rev. Shannon Doege, Rev. Kate Walker, and Christina Mohamed on behalf of Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network. Our own Rev. Paul Brandeis Rauschenbush and Adam Friedman also spoke.
You can watch the full press conference in this video.
These past few weeks have been some of the hardest for our partners in the Church 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.
This week, Interfaith Alliance is proud to join libraries, educators, advocates, and readers across the country in celebrating Banned Books Week 2025 (October 5–11). The theme, “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights,” reminds us that the freedom to read is a fundamental part of the freedom to think and believe.