9/11 Unity Walk in Washington DC
September 7th, 2005
You are invited to join us in person or in prayer for an unprecedented event on 9/11. People of all faiths will be walking together in Washington DC to send a profound message of unity. The 9/11 Unity Walk is co-sponsored by URI and over 100 faith-based organizations and other nonprofits. Details are in the press release below, and updated information is available on our website at http://www.dcunitywalk.com/.
Erik Schwarz
URI of Washington DC
9/11 UNITY WALK PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Daniel Tutt, danieltutt@yahoo.com, office 202-362-2222 mobile 503-334-7140, fax 202-244-0669
When: Sunday, September 11, 2005 1:30–4:30 pm
Where: 1:30 pm: gather at the Washington Hebrew Congregation (3935 Macomb St NW at Mass Ave)
2:00 pm: Walk begins at 2 pm sharp, stopping 3-3:30 pm at the Islamic Center (2551 Mass Ave), concluding at the Gandhi Memorial Statue (Mass Ave at 21st)
People of all faiths will be walking together on Sept. 11 to send a profound message of unity from Washington D.C. to the rest of world. The 9/11 Unity Walk starts at the largest synagogue in Washington and goes down Embassy Row to the oldest mosque, as the other houses of worship along the Massachusetts Avenue route open their doors to the Walkers and to each other in commemoration of the day. Many dozens of local and national faith groups and other organizations are co-sponsoring the walk. Everyone is invited to participate.
This unprecedented 9/11 Unity Walk will be launched at Washington Hebrew Congregation by the renowned Abrahamic Partners, Ambassador Akbar Ahmed of American University, Episcopal Bishop John Chane, and their host Senior Rabbi Bruce Lustig. The Walkers will arrive about an hour later at the Islamic Center of Washington for hospitality and greetings from the Director, Dr. Abdullah Khouj.
All along the Embassy Row route, flagship houses of worship will offer hospitality, including not only the Islamic Center and Washington Hebrew Congregation but also the Church of Christ, Annunciation Roman Catholic Church, the National Sikh Gurdwara, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, the Community of Christ, and St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral. The United Hindu-Jain Temple Association will host the conclusion of the Walk at the Gandhi Memorial Statue on Mass Ave. at 21st St.
Many faith groups are partnering in the event: Baha’is, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jains, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Zoroastrians and more. Imams, Rabbis, Swamis, Bishops, and other religious leaders will walk and pray together – in a dramatic display of unity – creating a non-political yet powerful message. The Walk itself will have an aspect of intercultural pageantry, with live Jewish, Sikh, Christian, and Hindu music and Walkers in traditional faith regalia. The renowned Pakistani musician Salman Ahmed will play.
Sponsors include United Religions Initiative of Washington, Interreligious Council, InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington, , and over 100 co-sponsors representing many religions, universities, international organizations, other non-profits, and families of 9/11 survivors. Embassies are joining in and hanging their flags in acknowledgement of the event. The Walk is also encouraging donations to a short list of faith-based charities doing Hurricane Katrina relief. Please see our website http://www.dcunitywalk.com/.
The Purpose Statement for the 9/11 Unity Walk reads: “We walk together as neighbors from many faiths and cultures. We gather in peace to demonstrate our unity, recalling the spirit of togetherness that grew out of 9/11. We commemorate this day because concern for each other’s welfare is the shared hope of us all.”