Friends Committee on National Legislation - FCNL

10/13/2026

We recently joined a wide range of faith communities across the country coming together to urge Congress to invest in urgent human needs over endless money for wars.

10/11/2026

25 years after the start of the "War on Terror," it's past time to end the era endless wars for good and to chart a better approach to security.

In Just Security, FCNL’s new legislative director for foreign policy Peter Quaranto co-authored an article outlining a forward-looking vision for a new approach rooted in human dignity.

Efforts to end wars and protect civilians could benefit greatly from a renewed commitment to the near-universal value of dignity.

10/10/2026

New from FCNL’s Bridget Moix in RNS: "President Trump’s rhetoric and actions have helped create a climate of fear, doubt and intimidation as we prepare to head to the polls. But we do not have to be cowed."

“How we make it through this challenge will be determined not only by our political leaders, but by ordinary people standing up to ensure that our elections remain free, fair and safe for everyone.”

Read more: https://religionnews.com/2026/10/08/lets-show-up-this-election-season-with-love-not-fear/

10/09/2026

We are deeply disturbed and sickened by the U.S. military’s plans to broadcast a public ex*****on. As a Quaker organization, our opposition to the death penalty is rooted in our belief in the inherent dignity of all people. Carrying out a public ex*****on as if for entertainment would inflict a terrible and shameful wound on the moral soul of our nation.

Our faith teaches us that violence harms all those who partake in it, and we are dismayed by all the ways that life is cheapened and discarded by state violence carried out in all of our names -- from police killings of Black people, to lawless ICE violence in our streets, to the endless wars our government inflicts on people abroad.

We call on members of Congress to strongly oppose this ex*****on, and to act to abolish the death penalty for good.

The Pentagon said it planned to livestream the firing-squad ex*****on of Nidal Malik Hasan, a former officer who admitted to killing 13 people in a 2009 shooting at Fort Hood Army base in Texas.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in an interview with a conservative news outlet aired Thursday that he had wanted to ensure “people are able to watch it” because “people need to understand that there’s serious consequences for these types of things.”

The ex*****on is scheduled to take place on Dec. 3 at Fort Hood.

Hasan’s ex*****on would be the first by the U.S. military in more than 65 years. A servicemember hasn’t been executed by firing squad since 1945.

Hasan, a former Army major who worked as a psychiatrist, was convicted of multiple counts of premeditated murder and attempted murder in connection with the shooting, one of the worst soldier-on-soldier crimes in U.S. military history.

🔗 Read more: https://on.wsj.com/4ieZKKT

10/08/2026

A powerful, personal reflection from former FCNL program associate for Middle East policy, Odeliya Matter. 🕊️🙏
 
The 3 years since the horrific Oct. 7 attacks have been marred by violence, suffering, and the ongoing genocide against Palestinians. Yet, amid the enormous pain, we have also seen important progress toward accountability and peace. 
 
As Odeliya told Advocacy Teams last night, the FCNL network “has been instrumental in shifting the relationship” the U.S. has with the Israeli government, and “pushing towards a future where the U.S. provides aid, rehabilitation, and peace-making efforts, and not arms to Israel or any country in the Middle East.”
 
Thank you, Odeliya, for sharing this moving reflection with us!

10/07/2026

Today marks 25 years since the U.S. invaded Afghanistan, launching what became the never-ending "Global War on Terror."

Over that time, two remarkable groups of peace advocates have gathered every week in Cleavland, Ohio and Birmingham, Alabama, defying the elements to witness against the seemingly endless cycles of conflict -- week after week, year after year, for 25 years.

"Neither of the vigils are large groups. Their power is not in their size, but in what holds the center," FCNL's Lindsay Bencick writes.

"Members have come, gone, and come, anchored by the message of peace that has been publicly delivered each week at markets and intersections for over two decades."

Read more about these inspiring stories of persistent, faithful action for peace at the link in the comments below!

10/04/2026

As we celebrate , take a minute to watch this amazing trailer for a QuakerSpeak's mini-documentary about the life and legacy of Bayard Rustin, "The Quaker Civil Rights Organizer That History Forgot."

Be sure to check out our recent post from Friday too honoring Rustin's legacy for the International Day of Non-violence!

QuakerSpeak is a weekly video series. New video every other FRIDAY!...

10/03/2026

Tomorrow, Oct. 4 is World Quaker Day! See how you can celebrate with Friends all around the world by checking out FWCC's event page and materials!

Learn more: https://fwcc.world/world-quaker-day-2026-theme-and-materials-announced-let-peace-be-among-us/

10/02/2026

Today, on the International Day of Non-Violence, we celebrate and honor Bayard Rustin, whose lifelong commitment to non-violence helped shape the civil rights movement.

Rooted in his Quaker upbringing and inspired by Gandhian philosophy, Rustin helped demonstrate the power of non-violence both as an effective tactic and a guiding moral principle.

Let us continue to lean on the enduring wisdom of non-violence in the continued struggles for justice today.

Quotes from "Non-Violence and the Harlem Riots," 1964.

09/30/2026

Today is the National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding School Survivors.

This powerful day of remembrance and solidarity calls us to honor survivors, remember those whose lives were lost and forever changed, and to reaffirm our commitment to truth, justice, and healing.

Our government must reckon with this painful history, and work toward justice and healing: For over a century, the federal government stole Native children from their homes, sending them to abusive "boarding schools" as part of a policy of cultural genocide. Many never came home. And the harms for Native communities endure today.

"September 30 is a day to remember the children who were taken from their families and the survivors who carried that pain home," said James LaBelle, Sr. (Inupiaq), 2nd Vice-President of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition and boarding school survivor.

"We remember so they are not forgotten, and we share our stories so future generations can heal. Our stories matter, and our children, families, and communities deserve to know the truth."

Please join us in spreading awareness and taking action: fcnl.org/truthjusticehealing