Palm Sunday and Protest
Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem was a protest. In Luke 19:28–40, people gather in the streets of Jerusalem. On one side of the city, Rome stages a parade of domination, military power on full display, armor gleaming, weapons raised, chariots rolling in to remind the people who is in control. On the other side, a different procession unfolds, a counter-witness. The people lay down cloaks and wave palms, welcoming Jesus on a colt, not a warhorse. It is a quiet but unmistakable act of resistance. Jesus embodies a different kind of power, rooted in justice and liberation. The crowd’s cry, “Blessed is the king,” is a risky declaration against authoritarian rule.
That same sin of authoritarianism lingers today. We see it in the lawlessness of ICE terrorizing our communities, in wars waged without accountability that drain resources and destabilize nations, and in blockades that deny people access to food, medicine, and energy. We cannot continue to allow power to go unchecked and allow leaders to use our faith to dominate, control and divide.
When the Pharisees demand silence, Jesus replies, “If these were silent, the stones would cry out.” Palm Sunday refuses quiet compliance. As No Kings protests rise across the country this weekend, we are reminded: to follow Jesus is to join the procession, to make our faith public, and to proclaim that injustice will not have the final word. Make your faith public through these actions below:
No Kings – March 28
The struggle for democracy is a moral and spiritual commitment. Our presence as a church at the No Kings peaceful protest reminds the public that the vast majority of people of faith reject authoritarianism and instead support freedom, dignity, and democratic participation for all.
Join us this Saturday, March 28 as we gather peacefully to protest against authoritarianism and ICE presence in our city.
There will be an interfaith vigil taking place in front of the USS Maine Statue at 12:45pm.
The Riverside Contingent will meet at 1:30pm after the vigil.
Register here by 12 noon to get up to date information: https://www.trcnyc.org/event/no-kings-march/
Join our Metro-IAF partners, Manhattan Together, and support OCC Expansion – April 13
On Monday, April 13, we’re coming together to demand what every New Yorker deserves: safe, healthy homes. For the 400,000+ residents living in NYCHA housing, that means real accountability and real repairs.
The OCC (Ombudsperson Call Center) is an independent, court-mandated service that works — it holds NYCHA accountable and gets apartment repairs done faster and more thoroughly. We want to see it expanded, so it can serve residents beyond just leak and mold repairs as currently required under the Baez v. NYCHA consent decree.
Join us Monday, April 13 at 11:45am in front of Harborview Terrace at 520 W 56th St., New York, NY 10019 (between 10th and 11th Avenues) and stand alongside the residents of Harborview Terrace and Amsterdam Houses to support the expansion of the OCC.
Register here: https://actionnetwork.org/events/occ-action-april-13-2026?clear_id=true
Join Churches for Middle East Peace and a broad coalition of co-sponsors (including The Riverside Church) May 5-7, as we converge in Washington, DC for a Joint Christian Advocacy Summit for the Middle East. Centered on the theme “Do Right; Seek Justice (Is. 1:17): Christians Uniting Against Oppression in Palestine/Israel,” this gathering will equip and mobilize Christian advocates from across the country in support of U.S. policies that uphold dignity, human rights, and lasting security for all who call the region home. Attendees will learn from experts, gain advocacy skills, and have the opportunity to meet with their congressional offices to call for a just peace in the Holy Land.
Email Rev Mira before April 5 to reserve your spot: msj@trcnyc.org