National Day of Mourning and Lament

Last week the United States surpassed the grim mark of 100,000 deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this moment, faith leaders from around the country have joined Sojourners in calling on people from all faith traditions to take the time to lament the loss of our brothers and sisters. As people of faith we refuse to let these deaths go unnoticed. Our nation needs time and space to truly lament the loss of our loved ones taken from us by the COVID-19 pandemic — and the pandemic within the pandemic: the loss of black lives due to police brutality.

On Monday, June 1, we are calling for interfaith leaders to partner with their mayors and other local elected officials to hold virtual prayer services and mark the passing of the 100,000.

We are are working with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, who have endorsed this effort, and have already received commitments from mayors in over three dozen cities and over 15 states to make Monday, June 1 a National Day of Mourning and Lament.

We need you to do two things:

1. Ask your pastors and congregations to join in this weekend’s unprecedented show of unity, as mosques, synagogues, and churches acknowledge this grim milestone with a time for lament and mourning — in whatever ways are best and most appropriate in your tradition.
    
2. Call on your elected officials — mayors, governors, and members of Congress — to acknowledge Monday, June 1 as a National Day of Mourning and Lament with interfaith clergy. Please invite your pastors and local faith-based leaders to help plan and join in with those interfaith services.

You can also join Sojourners' virtual interfaith gathering on Monday, June 1 at noon EDT here.