Faith communities show up at Peace March and No Dictators Rally

This past weekend, on Saturday, March 28, masses of people gathered around the nation for the "No Kings" protests and rallies. In Hawai‘i, similar events were organized under the name "No Dictators" out of respect for the monarchy and Hawaiian Kingdom that was illegally overthrown, remains occupied, and never relinquished its sovereignty.

In Honolulu, faith leaders and others started with a rally and Peace March at Thomas Square. This was organized in part by the ACLU Hawai‘i student chapter and Faith Action. The march processed down King Street toward the Capitol. With word of a bomb threat at the Capitol, the area had to be evacuated and people moved to nearby places. The marchers dispersed with crowds of people lining King Street outside City Hall, filling the grounds of the State Library, around the Judicial Buildings, in front of ‘Iolani Palace and St. Andrews Cathedral. Once the Capitol was declared safe, free from bomb threat, people were allowed back and the rally could go on.

Several clergy from various denominations gather for a photo. There were more clergy present! Photo by Kristen Young.

Several Hawai‘i Conference clergy attended the events and share some reflections:

David Hubert, United Church of Christ Judd Street:

"I appreciated being with so many others who feel the same outrage, disappointment, disgust, frustration, existential anxiety, and so on that I am. It is good to know that I am not alone. And coming together like that, in the face of empire that is attempting to divide and conquer, is an incredible protest just in and of itself - to refuse the agenda of fear, and to go ahead and form a community, is a statement of hope. And with the threat to the capitol that morning, deciding to stick together and march and protest was an even more important message that we will not be led by fear or accept the agenda of fear. When I go to events like this, I always wear my collar as a witness to the people there that not all Christians and Christian leaders are hate-filled, fear-mongering, MAGA allies, and I'm always moved to hear from the non-religious people how thankful they are that a clergy member is out protesting. I've found that a lot of people who don't feel any need for a church, or religion in general, often know exactly what Jesus said and talked about and they're just waiting to see some Christians show it. Considering how toxically they have twisted Christianity over the last few generations, and especially now under MAGA claiming that the war in Iran is sanctioned by God and the soldiers are holy warriors for God and so on and so on, being a public face of normal, loving, generous Christianity is quite important."

People follow behind David Hubert and Lauren Buck-Medeiros who are waving palms. Photo by Ed Tsang.

Lauren Buck-Medeiros

excerpt from Palm Sunday sermon at Church of the Crossroads on March 29:

Palm Sunday invites us

to welcome the Christ who still shows up in unexpected ways—

in the voices of the marginalized,

in movements for justice,

in the quiet, persistent call to love boldly and live authentically.

Not by avoiding the difficult parts of the story…

but by becoming part of the hope,

the healing,

and the transformation

that Jesus set in motion

when he rode into Jerusalem.

That’s why many of us here and across the country engaged in the peaceful “No Dictators” march and rally yesterday.

To be reminded of the power of community and solidarity.  

To  know that singing and chanting and marching and waving our signs can be a powerful act of resistance - a refusal to give in to despair...

To be reminded that hope is still possible and that love is still stronger than fear. (Or as Saint Bad Bunny preached at the Super Bowl halftime: the only thing stronger than hate... is love.

Clergy pose with banners at the start of the Peace March. Heather holds a sign that says, "We wave palms. They waive human rights." Photo by Ed Tsang. 

Heather Barfield, Kaumakapili Church:

It was a beautiful day in Hawaiʻi nei, especially after two consecutive weekends of damaging storms. I started at Thomas Square with those who were doing the Peace March to the Capital. Unfortunately, someone tried to put a stop to things by claiming a bomb was at the Capital. We simply shifted because the work of the people was not going to be stopped. Thankfully, from my perspective, things were peaceful. In the past number of years, I have found myself learning how showing up in the community matters. So, for me, March 28^th wasn't about partisanship as much as it was about pastoral identity, theological conviction and public witness. We all know that there is a deep history of the church being entangled with issues of power, colonization, and governance. So, showing up to me is a sign that we are standing on the side of justice now. Scripture consistently calls leaders to resist unjust rule and to protect the vulnerable: The prophets spoke against corrupt kings and systems that crushed the poor.  Jesus proclaimed a kingdom not built on domination, but on humility, justice, and love. In moments when authority becomes coercive or dehumanizing, the church is called to be a counter-witness. For me, showing up is also an act of aloha ʻāina—a love of land and people that seeks collective well-being. At Kaumakapili Church we have signs at all of our driveway exits that say, "You are now entering the mission field." Church is not just a once-a-week worship service; we extend beyond Sunday worship into the life of the community. When I attend such events, I am answering the question, "What does faithful presence look like in this moment?" For me, and my fellow clergy colleagues, it is a way to answer that call.

Women clergy lead the Peace March holding a banner, "This is the Moment. This is the Movement." Photo by Ed Tsang. 

Amy Butler, Community Church of Honolulu:

Saturday's clergy march to join the No Dictators Peace March on Saturday was a beautiful expression of people of faith coming together to speak up for our neighbors who are suffering, a country torn apart by division and war, and a fear that narrates our lives as Americans in this moment. Our faith calls us to be better and to do better for each other, following the example of Jesus who continuously calls us to step out of comfort into bold truth telling.

Amy Butler published an op-ed in the Star Advertiser on Palm Sunday: Reflect on humanity this Holy Week (view as PDF)

Did you attend a local "No Dictators" event? Share with us at media@hcucc.org.