Largest grassroots faith-based organizing network honors the historic moment with a sweeping call to action

WASHINGTON—Following the Democratic Party’s historic nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris for president, Faith in Action reaffirmed its call for widespread people-to-people civic engagement and reminded leaders to uplift the critical needs of the Black community and multi-status immigrant families this election. 

In a statement, Bishop Dwayne Royster, executive director of Faith in Action, emphasized that people of faith have a stake in races across the country that will impact the lives of historically marginalized communities, in addition to the top of the ticket: 

“The Democratic Party’s decision to nominate Vice President Harris as the party’s presidential candidate is historically significant in ways that go beyond electoral politics. Her opportunity to contest for the highest elected office is a sign to all people, especially Black and South Asian women, that we have a collective future that is full of possibility.

“Now that the parties have selected their tickets, the nation’s attention turns to voters. At this critical moment in U.S. history and with democracy under threat in the United States and globally, we cannot allow ourselves to lose focus on our vote being our power to create a new America where all people have the opportunity to flourish and thrive.

“Across the country, on November 5, voters will weigh in on critical issues up and down the ballot that will impact the lives of historically marginalized communities. Between now and Election Day, we will be relentlessly talking to voters in our communities and congregations, especially Black and Brown voters who are all-too-often ignored or taken for granted by parties and candidates, so they have a chance to talk through what is at stake in this election and make their voice heard by voting.”

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Faith in Action is a movement of people for faith and moral courage organizing for racial and economic justice. Faith in Action is the largest grassroots, global faith-based community organizing network, with affiliates working in more than 200 cities and towns in 24 states and a dozen countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Eastern Europe. Faith in Action is non-partisan and does not support or oppose candidates or parties.

Media Contact:
Shannon Craig Straw, scstraw@westendstrategy.com, 202-674-5921

Faith in Action thanks President Biden for a lifetime of service

WASHINGTON—Following President Joe Biden’s announcement that he is ending his candidacy for re-election, the largest faith-based grassroots organizing network called for calm and unity and affirmed its steadfast focus on ensuring that all voters, especially Black and Brown voters, who are all-too-often ignored and taken for granted, can — and do — vote this November. In a statement, Bishop Dwayne Royster, executive director of Faith in Action, noted that there are critical issues up and down the ballot across the country that will impact the lives of historically marginalized communities: 

“We are in a critical moment in our nation’s history. President Biden’s decision to withdraw his name from nomination demonstrates humility and acknowledgment that protecting our democracy is bigger than any one person. We are grateful for his legacy of public service, including the progress made during his Administration to transition the country to good, clean jobs available to people of color.

“While our democracy hangs in the balance and a great deal of uncertainty about what lies ahead, we must not lose focus on the urgent need to exercise our right to vote in November. Across the country, candidates and measures up and down the ballot will determine whether people of all ages, races, creeds, and backgrounds have access to what they need to thrive. At the end of the day, our vote is our power to create a New America that works for every person, family, and community.”

“We’re going to do everything that we can to encourage people to get out the vote, to help them understand what’s at stake this election season, and help them understand that we as people of faith have a sacred duty to oppose hate and collectively pursue justice and policies that honor the inherent dignity and worth of all people.”

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Faith in Action is a movement of people for faith and moral courage organizing for racial and economic justice. Faith in Action is the largest grassroots, global faith-based community organizing network, with affiliates working in more than 200 cities and towns in 24 states and a dozen countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Eastern Europe. Faith in Action is non-partisan and does not support or oppose candidates or parties.

WASHINGTON – The largest faith-based organizing network is condemning all forms of violence, including political violence, and urging a peaceful path forward following the apparent attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Bishop Dwayne Royster, executive director of Faith in Action, in a statement, called on his fellow people of faith to join him in being forces for peace and depolarization in this time of uncertainty: 

“Violence in all forms is unacceptable. As people of faith, we offer our prayers for former President Trump’s healing, for the families robbed of loved ones, those who were injured and all who were traumatized by yesterday’s apparent attempted political assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania. 

“Our prayers, however, don’t end there. They are with everyone impacted by violence from Butler to streets and communities across America and around the world, including Gaza, Sudan and Haiti. 

“Thoughts and prayers truly matter and my own tradition teaches that faith must include works. We all must choose to take action in pursuit of a more peaceful path forward. When atrocities like this happen, we should also recommit to banning assault weapons. We urge political leaders to not use the events in Butler to further polarize us and risk more violence, but instead commit to work together toward a common goal of improving lives of all people, untangling webs of injustice and removing weapons of war from our streets. 

“Christian holy scripture tells us ‘blessed are the peacemakers’ and if ever there was such a time for peacemakers it is now. I call on my fellow people of faith to stand in the gap and to be a force for healing and peace in this time of uncertainty and fear.”

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The Court’s refusal to allow Alabama to use the maps for the 2024 elections is the second time this year that SCOTUS determined that the governor and Alabama legislature diluted the political power of Black voters in violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

“The Supreme Court’s decision will help to ensure that democracy is thriving across race and zip code lines throughout Alabama,” said Dr. A.B. Sutton, Jr., chairman of Faith in Action Alabama and senior pastor of Living Stones Temple. “A thriving democracy brings honor to the God of Liberation. We pray that this time Gov. Ivey and Alabama’s current legislative leadership take heed of the Supreme Court and stop trying to relive the past by taking us down a well-trodden Alabama byway – one that would lead to undermining the democratic rights of the African-American community in Alabama.”

Dr. Fredna Grimmett, presiding elder of AME Zion Union Spring District, added: “As a person of faith, it is critical to me that all policies and laws honor the dignity of all of God‘s children. The Supreme Court’s decision will help Alabama more fully honor that vision. Black people in Alabama deserve full representation in the United States government, and Alabama’s defiance does not change that.”

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Faith in Action is the largest grassroots, faith-based organizing network in the United States. The nonpartisan organization works with 1,000 religious congregations in more than 200 cities and towns through its 46 local and state federations. For more information, visit www.faithinaction.org.

Faith in Action is a 501c(3). Faith in Action and its affiliates are non-partisan and are not aligned explicitly or implicitly with any candidate or party. We do not endorse or support candidates for office. 

WASHINGTON – Leaders with the largest faith-based grassroots organizing network reaffirmed their commitment to protecting democracy and expanding voting rights following the indictment of former President Donald Trump for conspiring to undermine the 2020 election, essentially attempting to rob the voice of millions of voters. 

Noting the significance of the indictment in efforts to hold perpetrators of the January 6, 2021, insurrection accountable, the Rev. Alvin Herring, executive director of Faith in Action, in a statement, said, “These federal charges are the first step toward meaningful accountability more than two-and-a-half years after we witnessed the violence wrought by years of lies and hate-filled rhetoric from those occupying the highest offices in the land. Democracy is precious and accountability for those who planned and inspired the violence on January 6 better protects our nation’s foundation, not just as we head toward the 2024 election, but for generations.” 

Herring continued, “In this moment of yet more unprecedented and historic developments, I am reminded of our collective call to be peacemakers – that we are required to act justly, with love and kindness, and walk with our God. Let me be clear, however, peacemaking is not a passive act, for there is no peace without justice, accountability or love. As people of faith, our voices are needed in this moment to continue the push for accountability for all the insurrectionists and those who would rob Americans of their sacred right to vote.”

Andrea Marta, executive director of Faith in Action Fund, added, “The actions of Trump, his co-conspirators and their supporters were – and continue to be – a direct threat to the democratic values at the heart of the nearly 2 million sacred conversations that we hosted during the 2020 election and the millions we’ve held since.”

Phyllis Hill, Faith in Action’s national organizing director and Georgia resident, said, “The vote is sacred. Trump and his conspirators attempted to rob us all of our votes to cling to power and push their white Christian nationalist agenda. But make no mistake, the effort to undermine the right to vote, allegedly, by the former president and his six conspirators extends to state efforts to do the same. Here in Georgia, while we await another Grand Jury decision related to the 2020 election, officials are preparing to purge more than 190,000 voters from the rolls. In Alabama, the governor and state legislature flat out ignored the Supreme Court ruling, creating yet another map that disenfranchises Black and brown voters. And in Florida, the current legislature continues to ignore the will of the voters and disenfranchise returning citizens who should have access to the ballot box following the 2018 passage of Amendment 4.”

Faith in Action, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary this fall, leads voter engagement work across the country. Through their Rise + Vote program, they educate and mobilize Black and brown voters — many of whom have long been shut out from the democratic process. Through this program and their 45 network federations across the country, they’ve reached millions of voters through relational grassroots organizing, phone banking, and community canvassing.  

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Faith in Action Alabama calls for the removal of a new legislative district map that contradicts the recent Allen v. Milligan decision

BIRMINGHAM, AL – Faith in Action Alabama is criticizing Gov. Kay Ivey and  the states’ legislators for approving a redistricting map that is in opposition with last month’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Allen v. Milligan.

The SCOTUS decision declared that Alabama’s legislature violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965 with gerrymandering practices that diluted the political power of Black voters, and required the state government to draw in a new district that was composed mostly of voters of color. The new map approved by the legislature today contains those same violations.

“Many of our state legislators and Gov. Kay Ivey approved a new congressional map that contradicts the spirit and letter of the law of last month’s U.S. Supreme Court Allen v. Milligan,” said Dr. A.B. Sutton, Jr., chairman of Faith in Action Alabama and senior pastor of Living Stones Temple. “Gov. Ivey and Alabama’s current legislative leadership are sadly trying to take us down a well-trodden Alabama byway – one that would lead to undermining the democratic rights of the African American community in Alabama. We will pray that our federal judiciary provides the needed courageous leadership to help strengthen our state’s democracy. A thriving democracy brings honor to the God of Liberation. Today our state’s leadership denigrated that spirit.”

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Faith in Action is the largest grassroots, faith-based organizing network in the United States. The nonpartisan organization works with 1,000 religious congregations in more than 200 cities and towns through its 46 local and state federations. For more information, visit www.faithinaction.org.

Faith in Action is a 501c(3). Faith in Action and its affiliates are non-partisan and are not aligned explicitly or implicitly with any candidate or party. We do not endorse or support candidates for office. 

Leaders with Faith in Action celebrate the protection of voting rights for communities of color with the decision in Moore v. Harper case

WASHINGTON – Leaders with Faith in Action, the country’s largest faith-based grassroots organizing network, applauded today’s Supreme Court decision in Moore v. Harper, and emphasized the faithful commitment to ensure all people have equitable representation and access to the ballot box. 

In a momentous decision, SCOTUS rejected an argument from North Carolina lawmakers that attempted to push the “Independent State Legislature Theory.” The theory was another effort from the state legislature’s pursuit to codify an appalling congressional map drawing that dilutes the voting power of communities of color, and disempowers voters from challenging partisan gerrymandering altogether. 

“As people of faith, we have a moral responsibility to protect our democracy and make sure every single person has the opportunity to have their voice heard,” said the Rev. Michael-Ray Mathews, deputy director and chief faith officer, Faith in Action. “This ruling is a huge victory for Black and Brown voters especially, who constantly face efforts to silence their political voices. The work does not end here, but this is a momentous step in the right direction.”

“This is the first step of many in protecting the voting rights of historically marginalized communities,” said Andrea Marta, chief strategy officer, Faith in Action. “We have so much more work to do to ensure all people count equally when it comes to voting. Legislatures know how much power we hold as voting blocs, and this was just another attempt to suppress Black and Brown voices. 

“The right to vote is sacred,” said Reza Nekumanesh, national co-director of clergy organizing at Faith in Action. “This historic decision demonstrates the impact that faith-based organizing has when defending democracy, and is a result of the tireless work of organizers across North Carolina, who worked day in and day out to protect our right to vote. The only way that we can fulfill our promise of voting rights is if every American has free and fair access to the ballot box.”

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With early voting slated to end Nov. 6 in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, South Florida parishioners were encouraged to get to the polls over the weekend in a decadeslong interfaith tradition to get out the Black vote.

“As faith leaders, we are really encouraging voters to exercise the right and the privilege to vote,” said Rev. Rhonda Thomas, FIF’s executive director and the assistant pastor of New Generation Missionary Baptist Church (MBC). “We understand what’s at stake for Black and brown people, our immigrant community and our returning citizens who are still being oppressed.”

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Executive Director Rev. Rhonda Thomas says the goal is to get as many people registered and voting this election as possible, especially as misinformation about the election process continues to spread. “We’re not just encouraging, we’re praying that it will be a successful voter turnout. We’re sharing the history of why voting is so important and how it even lines up with our own faith. And since Faith in Florida is a multiracial, multi-faith, it’s not just coming from the Christian faith, it’s coming from our Muslim faith as well as our Jewish community.”

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