Many thanks for all who came out to the Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Sri Lanka – and to all those who prayed, wherever you were. The loving and steadfast group of two dozen who came out in the rain for the People of Sri Lanka are both compassionate and committed. So especially is Tasneem Hamead, the Muslim UB Student from Sri Lanka who was the initiator of the vigil. We stood in love, determination, and solidarity with her. She offered the following wonderful words:
To rekindle hope in turbulent times
Friday, 26 April, 2019
Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY
In a devastating tragedy on Easter Sunday,
simultaneous explosions in churches and hotels claimed the lives of nearly 300
people and injured hundreds more. Sri Lankans at home and around the world are
in shock and grieving. Sri Lankans have been sleepless since Sunday. The
atmosphere surrounding my country and its people is one of fear-induced
paralysis. Many have described their feelings as being in a haze or a dream, a
dream in which there is no sleep, nor dreaming nor waking.
The perpetrators of this heinous crime have
been identified as belonging to a radical Muslim group. Churches are now closed
with the Archbishop of Colombo cancelling this Sunday’s service. There can be
nothing worse than people being frightened to go out to pray. Muslim Friday
prayers were also not held at some mosques today in a show of solidarity and
also due to fear of reprisals.
As a Sri Lankan and Muslim, I would like to
speak for all Sri Lankan Muslims and say how deeply grieved we as a community
are. These vile attacks were carried out in the name of Islam, however much it
pains us to say it. Yet apologies will not bring back the hundreds of people we
have lost or console their families. It breaks me to tell you that Sri Lankan
Muslims at large have not been able to protest this heinous crime against
humanity as a state of fear persists along with the fear of being mistaken for
terrorists.
Back home, when news of the bombings first
surfaced, my best friend was visiting my family. I was suddenly struck by the
realisation that she is Christian and I Muslim. Here was my Christian best
friend, in a Muslim home, when Christians were being massacred in churches by
Muslims. These attacks had suddenly placed the two of us in different boxes,
boxes we were not previously aware of. This is what the terrorists wanted. To
divide us and reduce the hundreds of innocent lives to mere victims: our people
who have left us too soon are not victims. They are martyrs. And they will
remain martyrs.
I wish I could say we are on the path to healing and recovering now. I wish I
could tell you Sri Lanka is solely focused on supporting our grieving people,
but we haven’t been allowed that. Sri Lanka is so tense that it hasn’t been
able to attend to its grieving population due to multiple threats, fears of
more attacks, fear of reprisals. We have not been able to protest these
horrific attacks: we have not been able to grieve as one community. We have only
just come out of a brutal war since 2009; we were slowly beginning to rebuild,
but Sunday’s attacks took it all away. Our hope is that this gathering might do a little, konjum,
poddak from far away what our people cannot do at home. That we can
come together, across oceans and within the island, at this hour of great need
and feel for each other. To rebuild a sense of hope in us all.
Statement read by
Tasneem Hamead at vigil for the victims of Sri Lanka’s Easter tragedy in
Niagara Square, Buffalo, New York on Friday, 26 April, 2019. The vigil was
organised by the Western New York Peace Centre, Tasneem Hamead, and the Muslim
Women’s Council of the State University of New York at Buffalo.
716-332-3904 wnypeace.org April 24, 2019
Dear Friends,
Please join us this Friday, 4/26, for an Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Sri Lanka, 5-6pm, Niagara Sq.
It will be focused on prayer and solemn intention for condolences, safety, and relief for the people of Sri Lanka, in love and deepest concern.
In a devastating tragedy on Easter Sunday, simultaneous explosions in churches and hotels claimed the lives of nearly 400 people and injured hundreds more. Sri Lankans at home and around the world are in shock and grieving. We come together in solidarity and prayer with those affected, and pledge to work for a world of peace, nonviolence, and healing.
As we are not going for a permit (no need nor time – it is, however, fully legal), we will not have a PA system. There may be some music; and possibly communal prayer out loud with a people’s mike (people repeating short phrases said by the speaker/prayer).
Prayerful signs are welcome.
In case of rain, we’ll meet at Buffalo City Hall Steps – rain is predicted both before and after the vigil time, tho [currently] not during.
Organized by the WNY Peace Center, with the Interfaith Peace Network, Tasneem Hamead, and the Muslim Women’s Council of UB.
Cosponsors also include Lincoln United Methodist Church, Muslim Public Affairs Council, Pax Christi of WNY, PeaceJam Buffalo, Riverside Salem UCC/DC Environmental Cottage, Ss Columba-Brigid Parish, and St. Joseph’s University Parish Social Justice Committee.
If you would like to cosponsor, please contact victoryross9@gmail.com. And we appreciate your publicizing it whether you co-sponsor or not.
Peace/Salam/Shalom/Shanti/Saama/Camatanam.
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
716-332-3904 4/22/19 wnypeace.org
Friends,
HAPPY EARTH DAY!! What an awesome opportunity we have to repair the harm we have done to our earth, our health and well-being, and our communities. We hope you have been busy this past week, and this week there are even more opportunities. Every little bit counts! Let’s continue to educate ourselves and each other, and to keep doing the work.
Tonight is our Latin American Solidarity Committee’s April Peace Coffeehouse: Industrial Agriculture vs. Indigenous Survival, 7-9pm, Canisius College Science Hall, Main and Jefferson.
Happy Dyngus Day! Enjoy.
Tomorrow, 4/23, join us for the “End Of The Earth” program by the Sunrise Movement for environmental justice at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 695 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY. Doors: 6:30pm. Program starts at 7:00pm.
Also, Save the date for:
Caring for our Earth, Caring for our Children and Future Generations: Where Do We Go From Here?
May 8 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
St. Joseph University Parish Community Room, 3269 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214. Listen to the voices of our youth. Get updates on current environment legislation and suggested actions. Pray together … Reflect together. Sponsored by St. Joseph University Parish Social Justice Committee, with the Interfaith Climate Justice Community. COME AND BRING A FRIEND!
Prisoners Are People Too Monthly Meeting, tonight, 7-9pm, CAO Rafi Green Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo, NY.
Our PeaceJam Leaders After School program began on Tuesday, April 9 and continues on Tuesdays for 11 weeks (through 6/25), 3-5pm (except when school is out) at the CAO Rafi Green Center, 1423 Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo, NY. Parents are welcome to register their children for this program. wnypeace.org.
Many more events on the website!
REGULARLY SCHEDULED EVENTS in the One Movement, One Struggle:
Riverside-Salem UCC/DC – Progressive program followed by potluck. Sundays, 4-7pm. Environmental Cottage, 3449 West River Road, Grand Island. All are welcome.
Talking Peace with the WNY Peace Center Radio Show on 91.3FM, WBNY. Mondays, 1-4pm. Call-in show! Go to wbny.buffalostate.edu.
Buffalo Supports Standing Rock Water Protectors/Nekanesakt. Indigenous support group/allies. 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month, 6:30-8pm. At Burning Books, 420 Connecticut Ave. All are welcome!!
Prisoners’ Rights Taskforce – Wednesdays 4-5:30pm protest/vigils at the Erie County Holding Center (Delaware & Church). All are welcome. Please bring signs.
Racial Justice Taskforce – 3rd Sundays, 1-2:30pm, Little Africa Culture Club, 356 S. Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY.
Interfaith Peace Network, 1st and 3rd Thursdays, 9:15am at 1272 Delaware Ave, Buffalo NY 14209 entrance and parking round back.) Breakfast potluck, planning/publicizing, & discussion.
Vigil for Victims of ICE Terror – Thursdays, 5-6pm, ICE building on the corner of Delaware and Chippewa. Bring your signs and spirit of Solidarity. We will not stay silent! #EndICETerror #FamiliesBelongTogether #AbolishICE
Environmental Justice Taskforce – Vigil to Protest the Shipments of VERY Dangerous Radioactive Liquid from Canada coming over the Peace Bridge. Fridays 2-3pm, Front Park at Vermont & Busti, Buffalo. Signs welcome and also usually available.
Stop The Violence Coalition – 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month; 6pm, United Way Building, Delaware and Summer Sts.
Women In Black – Nonviolence vigil, Bidwell and Elmwood. Saturdays, Noon-1pm. Signs also available. (and you don’t need to be a woman or dress in black)
Many thanks, peace, solidarity, and yes – Love
We shall overcome #Unitethestruggles #Loveislove #PowerWITH-NOTPowerOver
No hate, no fear as we are #StillResisting. Peace, Thanks, Solidarity, and yes Love.
***********
More listings on calendar and in previous email posts.
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