An Irreplaceable and Devastating Loss: Reverend Grayland Scott Hagler

After writing our eulogy of Reverend Jesse Jackson, we learned shortly after that another giant had also passed. Our dear friend and ally, Reverend Grayland Scott Hagler, passed away yesterday, leaving behind his wife, daughter, and nearly 50 years of pioneering community organizing work.

For about a decade, AMP was fortunate to work with Reverend Hagler to elevate the cause of Palestine in Washington DC. His consistent presence at every action and rally made him a feature of every major moment of solidarity with Palestine. Arguably one of the greatest orators of our time, Reverend Hagler's voice rang loudly from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to the heights of Capitol Hill.

Having led a faith leaders' delegation to Palestine himself, Reverend Hagler used his powerful voice and pulpit to speak out against the injustices committed against the Palestinian people. His church, the Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in Washington DC regularly hosted events on Palestine, including a standing room only event with Gazan organizer Ahmad Aburtema in 2019.

The cancer that ravaged his body made it very difficult for him to speak. Despite that, he refused to back down, insisting on continuing to speak and even showing up to our most recent press conference in front of the White House amid the Gaza genocide. That is a testament to his determination and sincerity in speaking truth to power.

Reverend Hagler will be truly missed. Giants like him only come around every so often. We are grateful that we had the opportunity to stand side-by-side with such an incredible human being.

For now, we will grieve this monumental loss and carry on in the spirit of the spiritual warrior that he was.