September 10, 2019

Tomorrow, the 18th anniversary of 9/11, we can anticipate a range of remembrances and commemorations.  

At Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, we remember it as a dreadful and ominous day when the Rev. George Regas awoke fearing the direction the United States would take under President George W. Bush. He immediately convened Dr. Maher Hathout, Rabbi Leonard Beerman, Rev. James Lawson, and others. Together they founded ICUJP and adopted the call that

RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES MUST STOP BLESSING WAR AND VIOLENCE.  

Tragically, the group’s worst fears came true as the United States and its allies launched endless wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. These wars have spread around the world, accompanied by death, torture, indefinite detention, CIA dark sites, Guantanamo, drone warfare, and widespread violations of human rights and civil liberties.  

ICUJP chose to respond by Speaking Truth to Power. For almost 900 Fridays, ICUJP has consistently met and taken action to learn, listen, share, educate, advocate, lobby, march, pray, protest, and organize, organize, organize—all to advance the cause of justice and peace at home and around the world.  

The scope of our recent work is reflected in the wide array of statements and calls to action we have issued. 

http://www.icujp.org/policy_statements

George Regas’s prophetic vision that inspired the creation of ICUJP imagined a world not of war, but peace; not of conflict, but reconciliation; and not of hate, but love.  

And we are still at it. The struggle continues. Please join us on Friday mornings from 7:00 to 9:00 AM at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 3300 Wilshire Blvd. (at Berendo St.). Also, please support our work by making a generous donation at www.icujp.org. 

And do something TODAY to help make the world a better, safer, more just, peaceful and humane place for every person who shares this fragile planet.  

Thank you. 

Stephen Rohde
Chair, ICUJP