The Moral Mondays leader and other clergy prayed at the Supreme Court for the poor, seeking action to ensure their voices and votes are heard..
By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware
Word in Black
On July 29, leaders from various faiths gathered in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., to demand justice. Together, they called for equality in pay, housing, voting rights, public safety, and health care.
The Rev. William J. Barber II, Poor People’s Campaign founder and co-chair, was among several religious leaders from various faiths gathered in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., to demand justice on July 29. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
This group regularly collaborates with the Right Rev. William J. Barber II, president of Repairers of the Breach and co-chair of the Poor People’s Campaign. Barber has instituted a year-long effort to engage eligible voters who haven’t voted in the past because their concerns have not been addressed by those in power.
“We come in all of our rich diversity, seeing the divinity in our diversity, to pray keeping faith with the highest ideals,” said the Rev. Dr. Alvin O’Neal Jackson in his opening remarks. “Praying that we would use our voices and votes to get closer to what we say we want to be…one nation under God.”
Barber said, “We come as clergy because the right to vote is from God, not from humanity or a constitution. God gives us the ability to choose this day. My Jewish friends taught me that the words for voice and vote are the same in Hebrew. Something is deeply wrong when any candidate says vote for me and I alone can fix things. Vote for me and it will be the last time.”
Rev. Rob Stevens introduced the first leaders to pray, reminding that prayer changes things, “but more importantly prayer changes us.”
“It can help us come closer to what we say we want to be, one nation under God with liberty and justice for all,” he added. “Kneel before our Creator with many names.”
Rabbi Jonah Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, echoed the synonymous meaning of voice and vote. He also, with one biblical story, summed up issues of justice for women. He referenced the least familiar Noah in the Bible, a young woman and her four sisters. Because of the times, they were not being considered as heirs to their now deceased father. But they insisted they would not be left out of their fair share just because of their gender and the lack of a man to protect them. They appealed to the prophet who appealed to God. The verdict was that God pronounced their cause just.
Rev. Jimmy Hopkins of the Presbyterian Church USA prayed for guidance during the election, condemning those in office who prioritize their interests over the public’s. He criticized their focus on legislation benefiting the wealthy while disparaging and neglecting those who have too little..
He closed with a plea: “Open our eyes to elect those who have a determined heart to do justice and to love kindness in a humble walk with our God.”
The prayers continued and will be offered the last Monday of each month until the General Election on Nov. 5.
