Buddhist leaders join interfaith campaign against white nationalist violence

Faith leaders are coming together to share a “Prayer for America” following a shooting at a synagogue in Poway, California.

Buddhist leaders have joined other faith leaders across the United States in the #ManyVoicesOnePrayer campaign in response to recent acts of white nationalist violence. The campaign, created by the a Jewish action movement Bend the Arc, asks faith leaders across traditions to recite a “Prayer for America” and share it on social media using the hashtag #ManyVoicesOnePrayer.

“The antisemitic shooting in Poway is part of a rise in white nationalist violence which is attacking communities and places of worship across the country, from synagogues to mosques to Sikh temples to sacred Indigenous sites to Black churches,” writes Bend the Arc. “An attack on one of our communities is an attack on all of our communities — white nationalism seeks to erase us all. We rise together, as one, in prayer.”

Zen Buddhist teacher Rev. angel Kyodo williams shared her recitation of the prayer on Facebook:

Nichiren Shu Buddhist teacher Myokei Caine-Barrett, Shonin also shared the prayer:

Congressman Hank Johnson of Georgia, one of two Buddhists currently serving in the House of Representatives, also tweeted using the hashtag:

Powerful words from @jewishaction about the spread of white nationalism: “How many more people must die at the hands of followers of this toxic ideology before we as a society resolve to take concrete action?” https://t.co/piS8NL5IPq #ManyVoicesOnePrayer

— Rep. Hank Johnson (@RepHankJohnson) May 1, 2019

Faith leaders are also being asked to bring the prayer to their place of worship for upcoming services.