As persons of faith representing diverse religious traditions and commitments, Multifaith Voices for Peace and Justice stands in solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters and decries any effort to divide communities, intimidate adherents of Islam, and propagate hatred, racism, and disunity. Together with the Archbishop of Canterbury and other religious leaders throughout the world, we believe God calls on us to love one another and to support the flourishing of all peoples and nations on earth. 

We therefore call on the government of the United States and the President in particular to disavow the extremist propaganda of Britain First and other hate-mongering organizations. We urge Mr. Trump to remove his recent retweets of this group and make clear his opposition to all acts of bigotry and attempts to intimidate and increase divisions. We appeal to our government, faith communities, and all people to work ardently for healing, respect and unity.

California Religious Freedom Act, SB 31 has been signed by Governor Brown!  Thanks to all who helped make sure this happened! 

SB 31 WILL prohibit a state or local agency from participating in a federal program to create a database based on a person’s religious beliefs, national origin, or ethnicity for law enforcement or immigration purposes.  SB 31 WILL also prevent state and local law enforcement agencies from collecting information on the religious beliefs, practices, or affiliations of an individual except under certain circumstances. SB 31 will bar state and local agencies from participating in ineffective and harmful programs that undermine public safety and diminish public trust in law enforcement, while also fulfilling California’s duty to ensure equal treatment under the law, regardless of race, religion, or national origin. The bill is co-sponsored by the ACLU of California, Asian Americans Advancing Justice - California, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations California.

SB 54, the California Values Act, has been signed by Governor Brown!  This bill will ban the use of state and local resources from carrying out the work of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in deportation actions, essentially making California a Sanctuary state. This is a huge step in standing up for immigrants and those who could become targets of the Trump administration.

Contact information for Gov. Brown and local Senators and Assemblymembers can be found below.

Our colleagues at the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) California/San Francisco Bay Area have issued a very helpful Community Advisory on the new discriminatory ban signed on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. Click here to download.

What you can do:

Join the Bay Area No Muslim Ban Ever vigil in San Francisco on Monday, Oct. 9, 6-8pm. 

Submit comments on "Extreme Visa Vetting" to Trump Administration. Click here for CAIR's helpful background and suggested comment prompts. Please join us in a loud and clear message that we people of faith we stand against this anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant and anti-refugee proposal.

Please join in the prayers and pleas for compassion as shared by the Elijah Interfaith Institute:

"Saddened by the suffering of Rohingiya people, which has been added to the suffering of so many other human being during the last few weeks,  we, Buddhist and Muslim Leaders, associated with the Elijah Interfaith Institute, as well as leaders of other faith traditions, invoke the timeless aspiration of humankind for compassion and love, and yearning for guidance, succor, and help from supra-human realms so powerfully captured in the two prayers below—one from Buddhist sources and the second from the opening chapter of the Quran. We wish to recall this common teaching and high moral and spiritual yearning of the human soul at this point in time, especially in view of the suffering of the Rohingiya Muslims who are being persecuted and are suffering due to policies of a Buddhist majority state."

Over 200 people braved the thunder and rain on King Plaza in Palo Alto for a Peace Picnic followed by Multifaith Prayers for Peace & Justice. (For the words of the poem read at the picnic, click here.) The program included all ages, many faith traditions and people from diverse ethnicities and backgrounds.  

Gathering songs were led by Chris Lundin of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic parish, and the Mitzvah Singers from Congregation Etz Chaim, both in Palo Alto.

Other musical offerings came from Baha'i singers Mahrou Derakshani and Chris French, young adults from the Sathya Sai International Organization, Region 7, and a children's choir from Congregation Beth Am.

The Sound of the Shofar, an Islamic Call to Prayer, a Christian Call to Worship and a Buddhist invitation to silence called us together, and Rabbi Amy Eilberg welcomed us into community and prayer. Speakers included Cantor Jaime Shpall from Congregation Beth Am (pictured with the children's choir above), Farha Andrabi Navaid (pictured right) who is President of the MVPA Musalla, a worship and community center for Muslims in the Palo Alto area, Rev. Fa Jun, a Buddhist/Interfaith minister from the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Los Gatos (pictured left), and Rev. Annanda Barclay from the First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto (pictured below in the closing circle). A Prayer of Lament was led by Farukh Basrai, from Anjuman-e-Jamali and MVPJ, and Rev. Mark Arevalo from Spark Church, Palo Alto.

Episcopal priest Rev. Frannie Hall Kieschnick led us in a closing ritual of circle, candlelight, song.  Rev. Kaloma Smith of University AME Zion Church, along with Rev. Annanda Barclay, sent us out with the words of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King:
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. 

MVPJ holds Peaceful Presence Prayer gatherings on the 11th of every month.
On October 11 the Baha'i Community of Palo Alto will host the service. Click here for more information.

We thank Chris Cassell and Alfred Leung, afflicates of Pro-Bono Photography for the wonderful photos!  To see more great pictures taken by them, click here and here. If you share these photos, please be sure to give them credit!

A four-hour workshop with Sharon Strand Ellison
Sunday, Sept. 24, 1-5pm
Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto, 505 E. Charleston Road, Palo Alto
$20 donation requested; no one turned away for lack of funds

Sharon Strand Ellison is an author and communication consultant who will introduce participants to the art of powerful nondefensive communication. This is not a technique for winning arguments, but a path to verbal disarmament.

Click here to download a flyer.

Help spread the word! Please post, share, and distribute widely!

To download 9/11 Peaceful Presence flyers simply click below:
Full color PDF
Fill color JPG
White background PDF (for easier printing)

Mark this Day for Peace, Justice and Inclusion
Monday, September 11, 7-8pm
King Plaza (at Hamilton & Ramona) in Palo Alto

Let us join to celebrate our common humanity and shared commitment to a world of peace, justice and inclusion. Prayers, reflections, music and rituals from diverse religious traditions will call us to unity and compassion as we make a public affirmation for peace. Those of all faiths and of no formal faith are more than welcome.

At 5:30-7pm there will be a Multifaith Peace Picnic, also on King Plaza, sponsored by American Muslim Voice along with over two dozen Peace Partners, including MVPJ.  Come for that and have more opportunity to cultivate community and friendship. Our Peaceful Presence Gathering will immediately follow the picnic.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: Click here to see ways you can help and sign-up for what you can do.

Visit, like and link to our Facebook Event page.

Bring a sweater or something to keep you warm, as it can get cool and breezy on the plaza!

Download 9/11 Peaceful Presence flyers and help spread the word!
Full color PDF
Fill color JPG
White background PDF (for easier printing)