27 March 2024
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — More than three dozen people joined in a peaceful rally in downtown Wichita Wednesday. They held signs against the bloodshed in Gaza and asked for the U.S. to “send aid, not bombs.”
The group of Mennonites and Anabaptists said they were giving witness to their belief that there should be a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
They gathered outside of Senator Jerry Moran’s office at 100 N. Broadway.
“We want to ask Senator Moran to pressure our government to end military aid to Israel and to, instead, send humanitarian aid to stop the suffering, stop the warfare and the genocidal killing that is going on there,” Heidi Regier Kreider, Mennonite Western District Conference Minister, said.
She said Moran was not at the office, but one of his staff members spoke to the group.
“They said that they would deliver our message to Senator Moran, and we hope that will happen. We would hope that the message gets to him,” Regier Kreider said.
With Moran’s help, the group wants Hamas to return all hostages of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack; Israel to free its political prisoners; the Israeli government to allow food and other aid into all parts of Gaza; and the end of military aid to Israel “in the face of genocide.”
The group held signs, prayed, gave speeches and sang during their one-hour rally.
KSN News contacted Moran’s office for a response. We have not heard back yet.