The National Council of Churches (NCC) is kicking off a new effort to end racism on the 50th anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination. The initial rally to begin multi-year ACT Now: Unite to End Racism campaign will be on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The event will begin on the evening of April 3 with worship and an informational session at the St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, followed by the rally on April 4. The event on the mall will feature Bishop Vashti McKenzie, Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Jennifer Harvey, Bishop Darin Moore, Rev. Freddie Haynes, Danny Glover, Esther Lopez, Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, DeRay McKesson, Bishop Michael Curry, Phil Lee, Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton, Rev. Jim Wallis, Lou Gossett, Jr., Rabbi David Saperstein, Christie Duncan-Tessmer, and many others. Ben & Jerry will join in and they’re bringing ice cream.
The campaign is conceived as a social movement to finish the work to end racism and achieve racial justice. NCC is committed to addressing criminal justice, education, jobs, health care, voting rights, environmental justice, immigration, and more.
The Upper Midwest region is working on some transportation options. The NCC has also made an agreement with bus.com to carry participants from hubs in Cleveland, Philadelphia, Baltimore and New York. Contact your regional office to find out if there are other local efforts to attend.