Interfaith leaders gather in post-vote solidarity

Outside of Judson Memorial Church near Washington Square Park in New York, Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Muslims and other faith groups joined together in New York City at a post-vote ritual gathering of prayer, song and solidarity following months of a pandemic, protests over racial injustice and a presidential campaign marked by fear and polarizing views.

The inter-faith coalition event took place on a day of electoral uncertainty when neither President Donald Trump nor his challenger Joe Biden had cleared the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency. "We wanted to really create a net, no matter what the results," said Naomi Less, founder of Jewish organization Lab/Shul, which helped organize the event. About a dozen people then gathered around a circle formed by dry, yellow autumn leaves on the street and used chalks to scribble words like "Peace; freedom; equity; and love.

Addressing the crowd, Jacqui Lewis, pastor of the Middle Collegiate Church in New York's East Village, said, "The common calling to love neighbor as yourself is in every major religion. And that is what gives me hope. That in the end, people will rise up and take care of each other." nFighting back tears she added, "We understand love beats hate and no one can take that away from us."