Nutley Clergy To Hold Vigil Against Political Violence Outside Of Town Hall

NUTLEY, NJ — Religious leaders in Nutley are planning to hold a vigil against national political violence on Saturday, Sept. 27.

The “vigil of prayer and song” is scheduled to take place at 6:30 p.m. in front of the Nutley Town Hall building at 1 Kennedy Drive.

The Nutley Clergy Fellowship released the following message about the upcoming vigil:

“Members of our fellowship are deeply concerned and troubled by the recent occurrences of political violence in our nation, with the assassinations of Melissa Hortman and Charlie Kirk being at the forefront of our minds. We recognize that these acts of evil are not isolated; they come from the ongoing and increased division in our nation, in our communities, and even within our homes and places of worship. Political violence that ends in physical harm and death is especially heinous and must always be condemned. Such physical violence is the end result of the hatred and fear stoked by extremists across the political spectrum, and has become rampant and common place.

“We must strive to be better as neighbors. We must stand together against ideas and actions which would seek to divide us. We must be peacemakers, if we want peace. The evil, hatred, and violence cannot continue, and must not win!

“Therefore, we call upon our community to join with us as we begin to ask each other the hard questions of how to respond to one another with love, how to look for ways to find mutual understanding across differences, how to offer forgiveness when we feel wronged, and how to seek justice for all people who call Nutley home. As the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us, ‘Hate can not drive out hate, only love can do that.’”

“As a first step in this work, we are inviting the community to join us on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 6:30 p.m. for a vigil of prayer and song in front of the Nutley Town Hall building at 1 Kennedy Drive Nutley, NJ 07110.”

With Prayer and in Peace,

The Rev. Asa Coulson, Grace Episcopal Church

The Rev. Jill Fenske, Franklin Reformed Church

The Rev. Nancy Truscott, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

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