Rainbow Wave! What’s next after the midterms…
We did it! Thank you to all of you who showed up at the polls to #VoteWithLove — and to everyone who joined one of our #VoteTogether gatherings!
100 days in, THIS was our most life-giving moment
Dear Friends, As we approach 100 days into this administration, I want to share with you the most powerful and life-giving moment of our year: Just over a week ago, we gathered with immigrant families and faith leaders at a church in downtown Los Angeles and listened to stories of those swept up in recent raids, including Romulo Avelica who was arrested in front of his daughter on the way to school. In their name, we marched from the church to the local immigration detention center in song, music,
Interview: Sikh-American activist Valarie Kaur is fighting hate with revolutionary love
This piece originally appeared on Scroll.in on March 12, 2017. The founder of the Revolutionary Love Project shot into the spotlight with an inspirational New Year's Eve speech. On New Year’s Eve, Valarie Kaur, a documentary filmmaker and civil rights activist based in Los Angeles, California, delivered a moving speech at a historic African-American church in Washington DC. In her speech, she spoke of the dark times ahead and how instead of leading to despair, this could be an opportunity for change. This speech was actually the message of the
ANNOUNCING A DAY OF REVOLUTIONARY LOVE…
This was originally posted by Auburn Seminary. Since the executive orders started coming down, we have barely had a chance to breathe. Thousands of you took to the streets, showed up at airports, held vigils, called Congress, and even supported civil disobedience. Our show of resistance helped win a restraining order on the ban on Muslims and refugees – it’s temporary relief but a true moral victory. All this in only 20 days. Will we burn out? If we let fear, fatigue, rage, or despair overcome us – yes, our
Our Inauguration Oath For #RevolutionaryLove
This was originally posted by the Auburn Seminary. In a matter of hours, our next president will place his hand on a Bible and speak an oath to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” It is an oath sworn many times throughout history, but never before by a person whose ideas represent such a direct threat to the Constitution. I share your sadness and anger, uncertainty and pain. I am not asking you to suppress these emotions — I’m asking you to honor them and choose
Kaur issues call to ‘revolutionary love’
At the conclusion of Valarie Kaur’s Jan. 4 electrifying keynote address at the College Conference at Montreat, the tandem lines on either side of Anderson Auditorium were at least ten deep with students all but on fire to have her respond to their questions. In fact, “fire” was an operative word for Kaur, an American interfaith leader, lawyer, filmmaker, Sikh activist, and founder of The Revolutionary Love Project based at the University of Southern California. She had so galvanized the conference by charging her listeners “to have the
The Sword & Dilruba: Spiritual Activism in an Era of Rage
On January 5th, millions of people around the world celebrated the 350th birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth teacher of the Sikh faith. We honored him with pilgrimages, services, stories, and sweets. But this moment offers more than celebration. In our current moment of political and moral crisis, the Guru’s birthday offers an opportunity for reflection. His life shows us the path of spiritual activism -- how to fight for justice through the ethic of love, even in an era of rage. Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708) lived
New Year’s Eve Watch Night Service
On New Year's Eve I joined with other faith leaders at the Watch Night Service at the historic Metropolitan AME Church in DC. There was part of my soul that had been shattered since the election -- a part that no one could reach. But the entire service -- testimonies, music and song -- touched and healed that part of me. So deep, I didn't even know it needed to be healed until it happened. I will never forget standing there, tears streaming down my face with the
WHAT DO WE DO NOW? JOIN THE FRONT LINES.
This was originally published on Auburn Seminary's Website here. As a Sikh American mother, I have been terrified since Election Day. More than 400 incidents of hate and bias have swept America in the name of President-Elect Trump. Soon his administration will consider proposals that threaten the dignity, safety, and civil rights of millions of families, including mine. It’s no longer enough to vent on Facebook or love our neighbor while keeping to ourselves. We are called to become political. I’m going to fight — for my son and the next
A Sikh Prayer for America on November 9th, 2016
[audio mp3="https://valariekaur.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Prayer-to-Heal-the-Nation-no-intro-Valarie-Kaur-11-09-16.mp3"][/audio] A SIKH PRAYER FOR AMERICA ON NOV 9, 2016 Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh In our tears and agony, we hold our children close and confront the truth: The future is dark. But my faith dares me to ask: What if this darkness is not the darkness of the tomb, but the darkness of the womb? What if our America is not dead but a country still waiting to be born? What if the story of America is one long labor? What if all the mothers who came before