Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace

ICUJP was founded in Los Angeles after September 11, 2001, to support the work of faith leaders from Buddhist, Christian, Islamic, Jewish, and other spiritual faiths and traditions who say “Religious Communities Must Stop Blessing War and Violence...”

ICUJP’s activities promote critical examination of the costs of violence and war at home and in the world from the Faith perspective. We insist on respect for human rights, international law and the use of peaceful means in the resolution of conflicts.

Since September 2001, a committed group has combined with newcomers every Friday morning in a church basement in Los Angeles at 7:00 am. At these meetings one is likely to hear issues presented by ACLU attorneys, Palestinian/Israeli nonviolent activists or Colombian labor organizers, in political/social discussions with a faith-based orientation.

Dialogue at the meetings has been characterized by Rev. James Lawson (a founding member and regular attender and speaker) as unique in his experience for the courage of Jews and Muslims in particular to face issues that can inflame divisions – and yet these members have found political common ground.