FAN members have been praying, marching, and calling for action to prevent gun violence in recent weeks. Pictured at left is Pastor Erik Kindem of Peace Lutheran, Seattle, in last week’s march from Temple De Hirsch Sinai to St. James Cathedral. FAN supporter Mark White has shared a beautiful photo album of that event. At right, FAN board, staff, and faith leaders Aneelah Afzali, Elise DeGooyer, Abbot Genjo Marinello, Carolyn Stevens, and Kristin Ang attended the Alliance for Gun Responsibility press conference. Thank you for all you are doing in your communities to call for stronger policies.
Turning Grief Into Action
While we have prayed, marched, vigiled together in recent weeks, we have also pledged to take action. We lament that gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens in this country. There have been at least 20 mass shootings since the 19 children and two teachers were murdered at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX on May 24, 2022. We need our elected leaders to pass gun safety laws now!
In Congress, the House recently passed the Protecting Our Kids Act, H.R. 7910. The act would increase the age limit to 21 on the purchase of semi-automatic weapons, restrict high-capacity magazines, ban bump stocks, prevent gun trafficking, modernize the prohibition on untraceable firearms, and encourage the safe storage of firearms. It’s now up to the Senate to take action and pass the Protecting Our Kids Act.
Washington Senators Murray and Cantwell, even while supportive of these measures, need to hear of our support as they negotiate with their Senate colleagues. Please take action today to protect our kids and community from gun violence. Pass H.R. 7910 Protecting Our Kids Act.
Click the button below to contact your senator.
Eastern WA Summit and Spokane Pride weekend!
It’s a big weekend for FAN in Eastern WA, and we hope you’ll be able to join in! On Saturday June 11, we are celebrating Spokane Pride. We will meet at 11:30am to march in the Pride Parade, and then will have a FAN table at the Pride Festival from 12:00-6:00 pm. Join us to march and/or stop by our table! You can email Eastern WA Regional Organizer Lauren at Schubring@fanwa.org
Then on Sunday June 12, join our Eastern WA Spring Summit! It is from 2:00-4:00pm at St. John’s Cathedral, or you can attend via Zoom. RSVP and receive more information when you register here. We would love to see you this weekend for one or both of these opportunities to gather!
Celebrate FAN’s 11th Anniversary!
Keep our FAN network strong for the work ahead! On June 11, FAN celebrates the 11th anniversary of our founding. Please see our Spring Appeal, posted here on our Blog, and consider a donation to support the growing edges of our work. The way forward is together!
Poor Peoples’ Campaign
The Seattle Regional PPC in partnership with The Well and the WA PPC is honored to host Dr. Cornel West for a virtual talk on King’s Philosophy of Nonviolence Monday June 13th 6:00-7:30 PM, register here.
Dr. West will remind us that nonviolence is not a temporary behavior we adopt while taking action–it is a way of life for people who believe, “that justice is what love looks like in public.” Dr. West will connect King’s philosophy with PPC’s campaign to shift the narrative, to build power among people living in poverty and low wealth, and to secure policies that reconstruct society from the bottom up. He will ground us in preparation for the Mass Assembly and Moral March on June 18th!
There will be a delegation attending from Washington, as well as an opportunity to join in watch parties locally on June 18, including a gathering sponsored by First Lutheran Church of Bothell, noon-2pm, in the fellowship hall to view video from D.C., learn more and share a light lunch. Or tune in virtually at 7am Pacific time June 18 on PPC website.
Washington State Pride Month Events
June 11 | Spokane Pride – Stop by the FAN booth and say hello!
June 18 | Yakima Pride Parade & Festival
June 26 | Seattle Pride Parade
July 9 | Tacoma Pride Festival
July 9 | Vancouver Pride
June 11 | Washington, DC, and 10+ WA Cities
In the wake of tragic mass shootings in the last month, it’s time to March for Our Lives, again. Thousands are gathering in our nation’s capital and in cities across the country on Saturday morning to call for end of gun violence and stronger gun control laws. Find a march near you.
June 11 | 2:00 - 4:00p PDT | Seattle, WA
Join the Seattle NAACP for the second annual They Will Never Be Forgotten: Remembering Victims of Gun Violence event. The public event will take place at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park at 2200 Martin Luther King Jr Way S. in Seattle.
June 12 | 2:00 - 4:00p PDT | Spokane, WA & Virtual
Last chance to register for our final FAN summit in Eastern Washington! Join us on Zoom or in-person at Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 127 E 12th Avenue in Spokane. Click here to register.
June 13 | 6:00 - 7:30p PDT | Virtual
The Seattle Regional Poor Peoples’ Campaign (PPC) in partnership with The Well and the WA PPC is honored to host Dr. Cornel West for a virtual talk on King's Philosophy of Nonviolence. RSVP here.
June 14 | 6:30p PDT | Virtual
Free webinar: Green Your Home’s Carbon Footprint sponsored by Faith Action Climate Team (FACT). Court Olson, a civil engineer with decades of experience in green buildings will be presenting. Register for the meeting.
June 15 | 8:00p PDT | Seattle, WA
Come together for a candlelight prayer vigil honoring the victims of Uvalde, Buffalo, and Orange County. Meet outside of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Seattle. Masks encouraged. More info.
June 17 | 7:00p EDT | Virtual
Join a national Mother Emanuel AME Commemorative Service for the Martyred. Inspired by Rev. Dr. James A. Forbes, engage in simultaneous Bible study to lament and address the racial antipathy gripping our nation. The service will be live-streamed and feature a panel of Biblical scholars and church leaders discussing the “Parable of the Soils” in Mark 4:1-9—the text the church members were studying the night they were killed.
June 18 | 9:30a EDT | Washington, DC
Join the national Poor People's Campaign as it plans to lead a moral march on Washington and to the polls in our nation's capital. More info.
June 25 | 3:00p PDT | Seattle, WA
C & P Coffee Company, 5612 California Ave SW, West Seattle. Feeling weary, worried, helpless about...well, everything? The antidote for anxiety is action! Come find out what you can do. Hosted by West Seattle Activists, meet folks from Faith Action Network, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense, Fieldteam6, Sister District and others. Kids welcome. Please wear masks to protect the most vulnerable among us.
The Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life (SEEL) is a nine month program of prayer, monthly communal retreat mornings, and individual spiritual direction. SEEL will offer a hybrid retreat in 2022-23 and is accepting applications now for the program starting in late September For more information, see www.seelpugetsound.org
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