Athens Quakers and AFSC Host First Rally to Protest Trump Administration Policies

The Athens Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) and the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a Quaker organization, hosted a Rally of Resistance on Saturday to express concerns about the Trump administration’s policies and actions. This event marked the first of four planned rallies scheduled for the first Saturday of each month throughout the year.

At the rally, attendees were invited to sign a “declaration of resistance,” which included statements such as “We will protect,” “We will resist,” and “We will build.” These themes aligned with the organizers’ emphasis on peace, justice, and community action.

The AFSC, an international organization rooted in Quaker principles, has been promoting similar events nationwide. The Athens Religious Society of Friends previously held a rally on July 4, where participants began signing the declaration of resistance banner, continuing the movement of collective protest and advocacy.

Deb Weiler, a member of the Athens Religious Society of Friends, emphasized the Quakers’ longstanding commitment to peace. “The Quakers are a peace church, and we do everything that we can to try to avoid getting into wars and conflict. But obviously, we haven’t been able to do that, and we’ve been protesting wars for a long, long time,” she said.

The rally attracted participants from various organizations, including Oconee Street United Methodist Church and Indivisible Georgia District 10. Joel Siebentritt, a board member at Oconee Street United Methodist Church, highlighted the church’s tradition of peace and social justice. “There should be no separation between a person who calls themselves a Christian and a path of serving each other, our neighbors, in the name of peace and justice,” he stated.

Attendees carried signs with messages such as “More dignity, not cages” and “Peace is possible.” Weiler wore a shirt that read “Wage peace,” reflecting the group’s call for nonviolent action and moral clarity. The event underscored the Quakers’ role in advocating for peace and justice, aligning with Micah 6:8, which calls for acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God.

Source: Read the original report