For Immediate Release
March 13, 2014
Contact Information

Flo McAfee
Summerland Studio
703.302.1894
Flo@summerlandstudio.com

(BPRW) Houses of Worship to Preach, Pray and Act to Raise Awareness of Gun Violence and Mass Incarceration on Live Free Sabbath

- Congregants will share photos of loved ones lost to gun violence, March 14-16 -

(BLACK PR WIRE) – WASHINGTON – From New York to California, Michigan to Louisiana, thousands of worshippers in houses of worship across the county will participate in the Lifelines To Healing Live Free Sabbath from Friday, March 14 through Sunday, March 16. Live Free Sunday: Honoring our Sons and Brothers will feature family members displaying photos of loved ones lost to gun violence, or a son or brother for whom they’d like to pray. The Sabbath weekend kicks off 90 days of action to be our brother’s keeper by reducing gun violence and ending mass incarceration in America. For Live Free Sabbath event resources including a congregational toolkit, go to www.lifelinestohealing.org/resources.

“As Americans, and people of faith, our values teach us that we have a shared responsibility to each other, and so we stand in solidarity honoring the truth that I am my brother’s keeper and I am my sister’s keeper,” said Pastor Michael McBride, director of PICO National Network’s Lifelines to Healing Campaign. “Starting with Live Free Sabbath, over the next 90 days, we are renewing our commitment of working together in our cities and communities to ensure that when young people wake up to go to school, they can learn and be successful; and when they return home at night, they feel safe and free from violence and trauma. We are calling on everyone across the country to PREACH, PRAY and ACT to heal our nation."

Live Free Sabbath is organized by the PICO National Network’s Lifelines to Healing Campaign, a faith-based effort to reduce gun violence and end mass incarceration in our nation’s urban communities. As a part of the Sabbath, clergy will call on the faithful to advocate for an actionable plan to prevent gun violence and raise awareness around mass incarceration. Houses of worship from all faiths and denominations are expected to take part, including City of Refuge in Los Angeles, Tabernacle of Praise Church in Atlanta, and Olivet Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Start times vary from congregation to congregation. It is being held in conjunction with the Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath, organized by Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence and the Washington National Cathedral.

PICO National Network is the largest grassroots, faith-based organizing network in the United States. PICO works with 1,000 religious congregations in more than 200 cities and towns through its 60 local and state federations. PICO and its federations are non-partisan and do not endorse or support candidates for office. PICO urges people of faith to consult their faith traditions for guidance on specific policies and legislation. Learn more at www.piconetwork.org.