Marking a decade of dialogue and commitment to uplift the beautiful tapestry of faith traditions, Los Angeles marked the 10th Annual Day of Religious Pluralism at City Hall on May 13.
Sponsored by the Ismaili Council of the Western USA, LA Council of Religious Leaders, and the Interreligious Council of Southern California, the event included participation from faith leaders and spiritual communities across the City. The program features multi-faith prayers, choir performances, and an acknowledgment of the Day of Religious Pluralism.
“Today’s celebration reflects the soul of Los Angeles, diverse and united. When we gather to honor our faith traditions, we honor a shared path built on understanding, compassion, and community,” said Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson.
Since its inception, the Day of Religious Pluralism continues to honor the contributions of religious communities while addressing critical issues—from hate violence and building resilience, to women in peacebuilding, humanitarian solidarity and social healing and belonging. Each year, the event lifts up a theme to reinforce the City’s values of equity, inclusion, and mutual respect.
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“The work of pluralism is never finished—it is a practice that demands listening with love,” said Capri Maddox, executive director of Los Angeles Civil Rights. “In celebrating a decade of this observance, we recommit to building a city where no one is marginalized because of how they worship, and everyone is valued for who they are.”
The Day of Religious Pluralism traces back to April 21, 2015, when the Los Angeles City Council formally passed a resolution to recognize the observance. This milestone followed years of multifaith dialogue, engagement, and community-building under the auspices of the City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission and local faith leaders. As early as 2006, multifaith convenings created brave and healing spaces for addressing difference, strengthening ties, and cultivating a shared vision of inclusion.
Joumana Silyan-Saba, director of Civic Participation and Human Rights at the LA Civil Rights Department, has been instrumental in the establishment of the LA Day of Religious Pluralism from the beginning. She added, “Religious pluralism is a foundational value for a healthy democracy. Over the past ten years, we have committed to not just honoring differences but actively fostering collaboration, compassion, and civic responsibility across faiths.”
“Pluralism is a practice. In a city with so much diversity, while we may run into each other, working together across our differences, especially when we disagree, requires discipline. All in our city deserve to belong and be in community. The religious Day of Pluralism is a reminder to rekindle our commitment to liberty and justice for all,” said Aziza Hasan, executive director, NewGround.
In this time of such great uncertainty, we all must ground ourselves in our faith that reminds us of the powers within us. We are not helpless or powerless. Faith reminds us, what we need is DEEP INSIDE,” declared the Rev. Dr. Najuma Smith-Pollard, Word of Encouragement Community Church.
