WA4PJ Advocacy Day 2025

Tara and a few folks from our network attended Washington for Peace & Justice's Advocacy Day in February. Tara reflects:

I've both attended and organized advocacy days in Olympia in the past, which are usually days of excitement and energy. We gather to plan our talking points, bounce around the capitol for quick meetings with our legislators, and gather on the steps for a rally and picture.

Similar to Joey's experience at Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Day weeks before, the day had moments that were far more somber. The promised ceasefire in Gaza has been repeatedly violated by the state of Israel. President Trump has threatened to take Palestine and use it for his own purposes. Justice for the tens of thousands of people killed and displaced has not come, including justice for Washington residents Aysenur Ezgi Eygi (2024) and Rachel Corrie (2003) who were killed as they participated in solidarity efforts with Palestinians. There is a lot to be fearful and saddened by.

And, the sacred work we shared together had moments of power. My legislative district was honored to be joined by Aysenur's husband and father. The Washington state legislature has a hush hush practice around issues related to Palestine and Israel, but it was clear from our legislators' faces that hearing Aysenur's family's story of how Washington residents have been directly impacted by this violence landed deeply, as well as calls from Palestinian, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and unaffiliated leaders to divest our state tax dollars from further human destruction.

At the Church Council, we center our work around the leadership of those most impacted by oppression. As we consider partnership with community organizations, we seek similar alignment on this value. WA4PJ held their advocacy day in just this way - prioritizing Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, and Jewish voices first, as other people of faith and conscience joined in solidarity. This is a model of how we can hold such painful and necessary work together, utilizing the diversity of our identities to bring about a future when justice is realized.