Riverside Weekly Actions | October 1, 2026
Meet MSJ Commission Co-Chair Perry Greene!!
History: Wash, Rinse, Repeat
In the early 1960’s, my family was asked (not an ask, but a demand) to leave a diner and then vacate our reserved hotel room because we were not the right color. These events ‘colored’ my view of the world for the rest of my life. I was at the 1963 March on Washington. I was attacked and spit on at a protest march against the Vietnam War in 1964 in NYC (My mother gave me a yellow rain jacket to protect me from the spit and white paint). In 1968, I cried and then marched down Broadway to protest the murder of MLK. I was at the 1969 March against Death at the Pentagon in 1969, and left dazed in the fog of tear gas and mace. I dodged angry horses and angrier mounted police officers in the protest against George Wallace at Madison Square in 1969. I am currently a proud congregant at the Riverside Church in NYC. I serve as the Vice Chair of the Mission and Social Justice Commission. I do so not only to serve the church I love but also to remind myself what time it is. It is time to get back to the streets, to remember what is important, what has been gained, and what has been lost. The dream (and that’s all it has ever been) is in jeopardy. Let’s take that dream back. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are words of hope, not despair. Engage the struggle, whether it is the Anti-Racism Task Force, Beloved Earth Community, Palestinian Circle or other initiatives. Feel free to ask me about the Christian Advocacy Summit for Just Peace in Palestine – engage the struggle. Voter, LGBTQ+, immigrant, and people’s rights are on the line. Save the democracy we almost had. Peace.
Respectfully submitted by Perry Greene, Ph. D.
Mental Health Listening Circle
October 4, 1:30pm — Room 9T
We’re gathering with Metro-IAF/Manhattan Together organizers, community leaders, and fellow members of our congregation to speak honestly about New York City’s mental health crisis and its impact on our communities. This is your chance to share your own concerns, hear from others, and deepen our collective understanding of what so many New Yorkers are facing. What we hear here will shape the concerns we raise at the rally the following Sunday.
Mayoral Accountability Action
October 11, 12:45pm — The Riverside Church
The Riverside Church will join Metro IAF at Queens College to call on Mayor Mamdani to uphold the commitments he made to our communities in 2025. More than 10,000 New Yorkers came together through Metro IAF to advance a people-powered agenda: building affordable housing, fixing NYCHA, addressing the mental health crisis, and taking action on community issues. Mayor Mamdani committed to this agenda — now we’re coming together to review the progress made, relay the concerns we’ve raised, and organize for what’s next.
- 12:45pm – Meet at The Riverside Church; bus departs for Queens College
- 2:30pm – Event begins at Queens College
Election Protection Training Saturday, October 3rd | 1:00 PM-4:00 PM | Assembly Hall, The Riverside Church
Join us to become a trained volunteer for poll monitoring! With us, you will learn how to support your neighbors—and yourself—by understanding your voting rights, de-escalation techniques, and how to respond to issues at the polls.
Register: NYS Election Protection Volunteer Training · Hands Off NYC
Faith Leader Election Preparedness Workshop Tuesday, October 6 | 10:00 AM–1:00 PM | In Person St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, 131 E. 10th St., Manhattan
Faith leaders will work through realistic election scenarios and develop shared plans for how we can respond together to potential election disruptions and protect our communities and our democracy. Dinner will be served.
Register: https://forms.gle/DN4W2sZiuyzkT7xw9
Interfaith Conversation on Religious Nationalism with a focus on Hinduism and Hindutva
Thursday, October 1 | 4:00PM – 6:00PM | 9T (Reception to follow)
As religious nationalism grows in the United States and around the world, I’m writing to invite you to a series that invites a new kind of Interfaith dialogue: truth-telling, self-reflection, confession, repentance, and shared democratic principles. Join Peter Beinart, Sunita Viswanath and John Thatamanil and others for this first of many conversations on Religious Nationalism, this on specifically focusing on Hindu Nationalism.