US faith leaders call for day of mourning as Covid death toll exceeds 100,000

Source: Sojourners

In a statement, Sojourners says: 'As the United States marks the death of 100,000 people in the US from Covid-19, an unprecedented group of more than a hundred national faith leaders - from Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions representing major denominations, national faith-based organisations, local congregations, and millions of people of faith across the country - are calling for a National Day of Mourning and Lament. Together, they look to federal, state, and local elected officials to observe Monday, June 1 as National Day of Mourning and Lament, a day marked by moments of silence, lowering of flags, interfaith vigils, ringing of bells, and civic memorials.

'This call is being supported by the US Conference of Mayors who represent over 1,400 mayors across the country. Mayors lead on the frontline of the Covid-19 response effort and continue to model critical local leadership amid this difficult time.

'Together, interfaith leaders and mayors across the nation will call us to mourn, lament, and honour the dead, acknowledge the unequal nature of our suffering, pray together for the healing of the nation, and recommit to the difficult work ahead.'

"One hundred thousand people, citizens, friends, and family dead is a terrible marker we must not miss or pass by quickly or easily. We must stop. We must weep. We must mourn. We must honour. And we must lament which is to feel and bear great grief and sorrow, and to reflect upon it," said Sojourners president and founder Rev Jim Wallis. "To pray for the healing of the nation is to go even deeper than our horrible sickness; we must also see the national brokenness and signs of hope the virus continues to reveal. Our suffering has been painfully and racially disproportionate, but our healing must be in unison."

"As a nation we can't afford to be numbed or desensitised by this staggering milestone. Every one of the over 100,000 lives in the US lost to Covid-19 is precious and sacred. While the need for social distancing has precluded funerals and other traditional forms of mourning, we can and must find ways to grieve and lament together as a nation," said executive director Rev Adam Taylor. "These tragic deaths include so many heroic frontline and essential workers who risked their lives to heal, protect, and serve others."

The National Day of Mourning and Lament will follow a weekend of services from Muslim, Jewish and Christian places of worship - including Protestant, Catholic, Evangelical, African American, Hispanic, Asian American, and Native American - all united in times of lament and mourning for the dead. Remembering will unite across lines of religion and traditions and transcend our politics.