700 Attend Interfaith Call to Action and Prayer in White Plains

On Wednesday, January 28th, Westchester community members came together at Congregation Kol Ami for an Interfaith Call to Action and Prayer, to stand up against the horrific events that occurred in Minneapolis. There were over 700 people in the live audience, with Kol Ami at full capacity with an additional 250 watching the event on livestream.

People of many backgrounds, religions and communities, all united together against ICE. This call to action and prayer aimed to share, care and stand together against violence in our nation. The event featured speeches from many clergy from different temples and churches, and elected officials, including Congressman George Latimer. Kelly Rogers, the Senior Minister at Scarsdale Congregational Church helped to make the event possible in a short amount of time, planning alongside Rabbi Blake from Westchester Reform Temple, Rabbi Fenster from Kol Ami, and many other clergy.

Community member Andrea Seiden, who attended the event said, “Neighbors from all walks of life united in our shared commitment to dignity, justice, and care for one another… Clergy from a multitude of churches and synagogues led us in a spiritual call to action – like I have never seen before. Standing together, we held hands and sang “We Shall Overcome;” you could see tears in people’s eyes as the final chords echoed through the sanctuary — it was a powerful moment that reminded us we are not alone and that we have confronted injustice before. Our local leaders also spoke with honesty and heart, acknowledging the weight of what so many are experiencing and sharing that it’s keeping them up at night. They reaffirmed their commitment to fighting for policies that recognize each person’s humanity. As we filed out of the sanctuary, there was a sense of both grief and hope — we are grieving together, but we also felt strengthened by the knowledge that we are part of a community that stands together, speaks up together, and works toward justice together. I hope in the coming days we will hear more from our elected and spiritual leaders about concrete steps we can take and ways to turn our shared concern into meaningful action.

Community Leaders After introductory music from a guitar and drum duo, the event began with speeches and prayers. Rabbi Jason Fenster from Kol Ami spoke first. “We speak in different languages… but we are here tonight to affirm that we are one. We are one human family- rooted in compassion and love. We are here to stand together in love” he began. “Too many neighbors are afraid.” He was then joined by Rabbi Jonathan Blake from Westchester Reform Temple who said, “God of mercy and strength. You have called us to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you. Yet too often we shrink in fear, hesitant to speak when voices must be raised…” Reverend Pete Jones from Hitchcock Presbyterian Church added, “Grant us courage Oh God, courage to stand with the oppressed, courage to speak truth in the face of silence…”

Kelly Rogers, Senior Minister at Scarsdale Congregational Church welcomed Reverend Danielle Lindstrum, the Minister of the Community Unitarian Congregation at White Plains, and Reverend Doris Dalton, the Director of Connectional Ministries for the New York Conference of the United Methodist Church. They recited the famous words from Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. “Deep down in our nonviolent creed is the conviction… There are some things so precious that they’re worth dying for… A man dies when he refuses to stand up for what is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for what is true. So, we’re going to stand up!”

Following this, Reverend Astrid Storm and Reverend Eliza Davies from Saint James the Less read a litany. “Break down the walls of indifference within us and replace them with mercy and understanding. Make our communities places of welcome and belonging, where no one is left unseen or unheard…” The audience responded with, “Help us to be the change we wish to see in this world.” The final clergy members to speak were Rabbi Leora Frankel, Associate Rabbi at Larchmont Temple and President of the Westchester Board of Rabbis, and Pastor Debra Morris of the Church of Living God in Yonkers. They offered a prayer for peace and unity. They said, “Where there is hate, show love. When there is injury, bring healing. When there is division, bring unity… Together we may build a world of love and justice… In your many names, we pray.”

Rabbi Fenster asked for the elected officials not to give speeches or platitudes, but rather to “explain how they will vote, what policies they will and will not enact, what contracts they will and will not sign, and what decisions will be made in Westchester to keep our communities whole and safe.”

The first elected official to speak was Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins. Jenkins said, “Elected officials are continuing to stand up and fight against anything that tries to divide our communities. We always are going to continue to stand strong with all of our colleagues in government, but more importantly on behalf of all of you, because we live here too. And we need to make sure to not only raise our voice here in Westchester, we have an Immigrant Protection Act here in Westchester… we’re going to keep raising our voices saying what is wrong and what we’re not going to do. We’re not going to turn away anyone that needs assistance. We’re not going to move away from our neighbors. We’re not going to try to make sure that we’re dividing folks. But more importantly, we’ve got to stand up and say ‘even if we’re protected here in Westchester, there’s not enough protection for everyone. There's too many people that look around and live in fear and all of us are responsible for standing up and making sure that everyone in Westchester understands we’re here for everyone all the time… All of us should not, cannot, and will not allow each other to look away from what we saw in Minnesota, twice… We need to continue to stand up, speak out, and more importantly support all of us trying to do what’s right everyday, and not look away, not be quiet, and let everyone know they don’t stand alone.”

White Plains Mayor Justin Brasch said, “This is the time when we need to stand up for our friends and stand up for what is right… so we gather tonight to stand up for our rights… and most importantly for those that are most vulnerable in our society… We demand that ICE stop occupying our streets, spreading fear and division. We are demanding that our political leadership across the spectrum protect our rights and our democracy.”

Scarsdale Mayor Justin ArestWhite Plains Mayor Justin Brasch was joined by Scarsdale Mayor Justin Arest, who added, “I want to talk about what I believe this moment demands of us. Not as Democrats or Republicans, not as people on one side of any policy debate or another, but as Americans. Because what has happened in Minneapolis, and what it reveals about this moment, transcends politics. It goes to something deeper. This country was founded on a radical idea: that rights don’t come from government. They come before government… and our Constitution doesn’t say these rights belong only to citizens. It says ‘persons.’... This isn’t my interpretation. It’s what the Supreme Court has said, repeatedly, for over a century… Rights that don’t apply to the least protected among us aren’t rights at all. They're just privileges for a few… So when we see force used without justification… we don’t look away. We can’t. We ask questions. We demand transparency. We insist on the truth. That’s not partisan. It’s patriotic.”

Congressman George LatimerCongressman George Latimer spoke next. “We have lost the appreciation of human beings, and turned it into commodities. And when you do that then someone will pull out a gun and will kill someone…” He began. “The Constitution sets up three branches of government and allows the executive certain authority, but it allows the legislature certain authority, and this Department of Homeland Security has refused to honor the legislature’s right to enter into ICE facilities, to provide legislative oversight of the executive branch, and that leads to what happens on the streets of Minneapolis… You resign, Secretary Noam, or we impeach you,” he added. He left the audience with a piece of advice, “If you're looking for the silver bullet that stops this, it doesn't exist. But what you can do- find 5 people you know… and partner with them. Help them see how you feel.”

Assembly Member Chris Burdick added, “These federal attacks on our citizens are unconstitutional and totally contrary to our fundamental rights and freedoms. This is not the America we know and love. I stand in solidarity with the Democrats in the United States Senate for announcing that they will block the bill that will fund DHS and ICE. Until the necessary changes are implemented, ICE’s reign of terror must come to an end… I also call on New York’s seven Republican Congress members to demonstrate some courage and demand that President Trump withdraw ICE from the streets of Minnesota.”

The gathering ended with a wonderful speech from Reverend Trollinger from Calvary Baptist Church in White Plains. He said, “What threatens one life threatens the moral fabric of the soul of America. We must refuse to allow violence to define our future… Every person matters. Every family deserves to be safe… Tonight, I call you all to stand with the families that are mourning right now in Minneapolis and throughout America. Stand with the communities of our Latino brothers and sisters who we invited tonight and were too afraid to come tonight because of the fear that’s in America. Stand with those who feel targeted…We have come together for what? To share and to care in solidarity. What do we stand for? Justice... With truth and dignity for all. Who do we stand with? The People of Minnesota. The immigrants that sought a better life in America and communities that are under siege by ICE throughout this land. Here is a question that I close with this. How will we move forward? Here’s the answer- together. With one heartbeat, one voice, and one purpose, let us gather… We will not be violent in the face of fear. We will not be divided in fear, we shall share, we will care, we will stand, we will heal, we will raise together, our community can be better.” Reverend Trollinger closed out his speech with reciting the lyrics from the song “This Land Is Your Land”, highlighting how powerful and important those lyrics are, especially with all that is happening today.

Everyone in the room appeared to be moved by the powerful remarks during this 90 minute demonstration of community strength.

Watch the recording of the event here: