ATLANTA — A coalition of multifaith leaders gathered at the Georgia State Capitol to call for a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and to urge the Biden-Harris administration to end the United States' support for Israel.
The Atlanta Multi-faith Coalition for Palestine, comprised of leaders from various religious and cultural backgrounds, is pushing for stronger U.S. action as the November election approaches.
“We ask for an arms embargo on the state of Israel because what they're doing is against international law, against American law, against everything under the sun,” said Rev. Dr. Fahed AbuAkel, one of the organizers.
The group’s demands come as Vice President Kamala Harris and running mate Tim Walz prepare to visit Atlanta for the Spelman and Morehouse College homecoming celebrations, part of a nationwide HBCU tour. The coalition is urging the Harris-Walz campaign to take a firmer stance on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
Faith leaders, including Martin Sanders, a Presbyterian minister, emphasized the moral imperative of their demands.
“We are here today to say that enough is enough, and in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, I say, enough of war, enough of bloodshed," Sanders said.
The group’s calls for action coincide with Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s current visit to Israel, where he is attempting to mediate a ceasefire in the wake of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s death. However, coalition members remain skeptical that Blinken’s efforts will lead to significant progress, and they are pushing for the U.S. to cut military support entirely.
Naveel Alauddin, a spokesperson for the group, said, “We no longer ask for just a ceasefire. We ask for an arms embargo. We ask that we no longer stain our history.”
With Election Day fast approaching, the coalition hopes a new administration will bring a shift in U.S. policy. Rev. Tiffanie Mackey emphasized that their advocacy will not end with the election.
“This is beyond November. There's a lot of work to do, and there's a lot of advocacy that needs to be done," she explained.
As the Harris-Walz campaign plans further stops in Georgia, the coalition’s message is clear: U.S. involvement in the Middle East must change.