Mennonites and allies affiliated with Mennonite Action are planning an 11-day, 135-mile march from Harrisonburg, Va., to Washington, D.C., to call for a cease-fire in Gaza and an end to U.S. military aid to Israel, beginning July 18.

According to a July 11 release from Mennonite Action, the marchers will join an interfaith coalition countering the lobby effort of the far-right organization Christians United For Israel and pressuring U.S. lawmakers to change course on Gaza.

Singing hymns and holding evening worship services along the way, “All God’s Children March for a Ceasefire” will draw attention to the suffering, death and destruction unfolding in Gaza.

Marchers will call on Congress and the Biden administration to support an immediate, permanent cease-fire and a release of all hostages and political prisoners, to halt military aid to Israel and to support a political solution that includes an end to the occupation of Palestine and peace for Palestinians and Israelis.

“As Christians and Mennonites, Christ calls us to peacemaking and to be on the side of the downtrodden and the oppressed,” said Emily Hershberger of Harrisonburg, a member of Shalom Mennonite Congregation, who is helping plan the march. “That’s why we are calling for an immediate, permanent cease-fire and for our government to stop providing arms to Israel as it kills tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians.”

The Mennonite marchers, ranging in age from 15 to 74, will travel about 13 miles a day. Marchers are supported by their congregations to represent their churches. Their home communities include Salem Ore., Waterloo Ont., South Bend Ind., Lancaster Pa., Kalona Iowa, Freeman, S.D., Tucson. Ariz., and more, in addition to many participants from Harrisonburg.

In Washington, the marchers will join an interfaith coalition that will counter the annual conference of Christians United For Israel and confront U.S. lawmakers who are embracing CUFI’s agenda.

CUFI describes itself as Christian Zionist and the largest pro-Israel organization in the United States, with 11 million members.

Tim Seidel, a professor at Eastern Mennonite University and a member of Community Mennonite Church who is helping plan the march, said CUFI “demonizes and dehumanizes Palestinians, including Palestinian Christians, while also spreading vile antisemitism and Islamophobia. As Christians, as Mennonites, as Americans, and as human beings, we want to be clear: CUFI does not speak for us.”

Joining Mennonites along the “All God’s Children March for a Ceasefire” route are members of the Shenandoah Valley Muslim Coalition, residents of Harrisonburg, other interfaith allies including Jewish supporters and other Christians who will travel from as far as Ontario.

“I am marching to show our elected officials that we don’t agree to our tax dollars being used to bomb children,” said Anna Johnson, a graduate student and member of Kern Road Mennonite Church who is traveling from South Bend, Ind.

“The Biden Administration’s policy toward Palestine/Israel is prioritizing death and destruction over ending these cycles of violence. I march because my faith demands I work for peace for all of God’s children. That starts with a permanent cease-fire.”