St. Mary's Prays for Justice and Peace

all are welcome to join a procession of prayer

Tuesday, January 28, at 2 pm

Sunday, February 9, at 12 pm

521 west 126th street between amsterdam & broadway

On Tuesday afternoon, January 21, law enforcement prevented a group of students from coming to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church for a scheduled meeting, compromising St. Mary’s mission to welcome and care for people in this community. 

NYPD barricaded the entire block, did not allow the group to enter (the stated reason is that the students were “breaking the law” by walking in the street). This action confused and unsettled people who live or visit on the block who were not involved in the situation.

Conversation with the leadership of the 26th Precinct has not yet produced any solutions to the disruption of St. Mary’s 200 year mission. The Precinct assured us that they will do the same thing in the future despite St. Mary’s strenuous objections and examples of harm to individuals and the community.

In such times when we cannot come to agreement about how to share the block respectfully, we look to the Great Litany, an ancient prayer, to ask God’s wisdom and power to bring peace to our block, as well as to our City, nation and world. 

Please join us as we pray for peace.

In a meeting last Thursday, St. Mary's expressed the following concerns to the Commanding Officer of the 26th Precinct about the behavior of law enforcement on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 21:

1) Law enforcement prevented a group from coming into the church for a scheduled meeting. This resulted in compromising St. Mary’s mission to welcome and care for people. Additionally, the blockade disrupted people’s way who live or walk on the block who were not involved in the situation.

2) Law enforcement entered the church sanctuary and the church basement uninvited. Not only is this improper, it resulted in causing alarm for a person who had been praying in the church, and when she looked outside she was afraid to leave.

3) Law enforcement did not contact the Rector directly about concerns, and would not engage the Rector to explore possible solutions. This is a public street, not a private campus. We strongly object to law enforcement unilaterally shutting down the street without notification or explanation.

4) Law enforcement told a church volunteer that it was too dangerous for students to walk down the street because of police vehicles blocking the sidewalk. This danger is one St. Mary's has been complaining about since 2014.

5) Law enforcement should not put hands on anyone without warning and cause.

What happened?

Members of Columbia University Apartheid Divest arranged for space sharing at St. Mary's for Tuesday, January 21, from 2:30-5 pm in order to hold a TeachIn by Science for the People about the plight of the Palestian people. They confirmed the capacity, and said that they would be having a march around the neighborhood that concluded at St. Mary's.

Police barricaded 126th Street shortly after 2 pm, on both the Old Broadway and Amsterdam sides, and the gates to Sheltering Arms Park were locked.

When the Rector asked why the students were not allowed to enter the church, officers said it was because they had been "breaking the law" by marching in the street and blocking traffic.

The Commanding Officer of the 26th Precinct refused at the time to speak with the Rector about alternatives. Police officers entered the church without permission, demanding to know our capacity. One police officer grabbed the Rector's arm and threatened to move her by force if she did not move immediately for a police vehicle.

The whole stand off lasted well over an hour, finally law enforcement "gave permission" for students to enter after they had dispersed (shortly after 3:30 pm).