Faith Leaders Hold Post-Election Prayer Rally

Christians, Muslims, Jews, and members of other faiths gathered in solidarity in New York on Wednesday and prayed and sang together passionately to unite during the uncertainty of the election’s outcome.

Gathered outside Judson Memorial Park near Washington Square Park, they sang gospel songs, stomped their feet with each bea, and lifted their heads and arms to the sky. They chanted words of hope and rejuvenation.

After the election of Donald Trump in 2016, Auburn Theological Seminary — a multi-faith group — hosted a similar event. This year in November, religious faith leaders met on Zoom and put together their goals for this event, aimed at healing not only for the elections but for the hate crimes and COVID-19 cases that menaced the globe.

 “I didn’t realize how much I needed that gathering until I was there,” said Naomi Less, associate director and founding ritual leader of Lab/Shul — a Jewish community-based organization. The fiath leaders said they wanted to insure that every vote was counted and every voice heard.

Less said that the rally had about 50 people who socially distanced and filtered in and out of the gathering. People watched the event via Zoom, and as of Friday, there were over 1,400 views on Facebook.

Participants were welcomed to join in common prayer. “That is where our spiritual help is coming from, people who gathered in the circle,” Less said.