On August 28, the 58th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic March on Washington, NCJW joined March On, SEUI, National Action Network, the Drum Major Institute, and dozens of our partners for March On for Voting Rights – a series of actions across the country in support of the right to vote.

In Washington, DC, NCJW CEO Sheila Katz led area activists, partners, and friends in a march through Black Lives Matter Plaza and rally on the National Mall.

In addition to turning out for the march, NCJW Atlanta Section worked with local rabbis to develop and share broadly a resource that includes a Prayer for Voting Rights to use during Shabbat services, a sermon prompt, (both authored by Rabbi Joshua Lesser) and a Selichot Reading in commemoration of the 58th anniversary of the March on Washington (authored by Rabbi Seth Limmer, with adaptation by Rabbi Brad Levenberg).

In Florida, NCJW Miami Section and partners led a Shabbat gathering in front of Sen. Marco Rubio’s office, where they joined together in song and shared why the Jewish faith demands a fight for democracy. After that, they joined the March On Votercade through Miami-Dade, which ended with a drive-in rally.

NCJW Chicago North Shore and their partners organized a phone and text bank ahead of the march, Be The Change, to contact legislators and register voters. On the day of the march itself, they helped organize and promote a virtual event featuring Illinois legislators as well as segments of the live stream from the DC event.

In case you missed it, NCJW cosponsored a Faithful Democracy Coalition event on August 22 to kick off the week of activity. The interfaith event, “Faithful Democracy: A Moral Prelude to Marching,” set the tone for why voting rights are so important for people of faith. Watch the recording!