Grace United Methodist Church joined with STL Singing Resistance to host a protest at the corner of Skinker Boulevard and Waterman Boulevard on Wednesday, September 26. Approximately 30 to 35 people took part in the gathering. The goal of the event was “to bring awareness to the community that we support our international neighbors, that authoritarianism will not be tolerated by this electorate and that voices, once heard, can heal and change the world,” according to Ruth Sulser of the Grace United Methodist Church’s Connections Ministry.
The protest is an extension of a tradition that began during the Covid-19 pandemic when church members started holding outdoor demonstrations on Wednesdays. The church revived the gatherings last spring and participants can now be found at the corner most Wednesdays from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Ms. Sulser said the partnership grew from personal connections between the two groups, including a Grace member who has sung with Singing Resistance and a friend of a church organizer who serves as a pod leader for the group.
The goal, said Ms. Sulser, is to make clear that participants support their international neighbors while demonstrating their belief that individual voices, particularly when joined together, can bring about change.
STL Singing Resistance formed in response to immigration enforcement actions and events in Minneapolis, according to organizers. The St. Louis group originated in the St. Vincent de Paul Parish but welcomes participants from a variety of religious and nonreligious backgrounds.
The group has appeared at protests around St. Louis and has sought to have singers present at the federal courthouse downtown during immigration hearings. Organizers also said members are discussing ways to support and protect the election process during the 2026 midterm elections.
Ms. Sulser said the church saw common ground between Singing Resistance and its own social justice work, noting a shared concern “about the dangers of the ICE system and the need to energize the electorate in the face of the mid-term elections.” She added that the groups believed that “these messages would resonate with the Skinker DeBalivere neighborhood.”
Organizers said the choice to sing rather than simply carry signs or chant music fits the tradition of nonviolent protest because it allows people to communicate without confrontation while creating a sense of solidarity among participants. Singing also offers an easy way for people passing by, including those who may never have attended a protest, to participate.
“Music reaches individuals without threat or fear, builds solidarity and reaches us on an emotional level beyond the written word,” said Ms. Sulser. “And it is an excellent way to include everybody in the spirit of the cause.”
The gathering also reflected Grace’s long-standing involvement in neighborhood and social justice issues. Its Social Justice Committee sponsors programs including a recurring Lift Every Voice email, legislation awareness, voter drives, petition campaigns and more.
Ms. Sulser noted that the Wednesday gatherings are meant to be both a public statement and an invitation to neighbors.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November–December 2026.
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