Contact: Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, 540-538-4741

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ --  ISIS is carrying out genocide against religious minorities on a daily basis and President Obama has not personally addressed this tragedy or involved his Administration.  

Faith leaders and community to hold prayer vigil and public witness in front of the White House on Saturday, August 9 at 11:00 A.M.

The vigil will be on Pennsylvania Ave. NW in front of the White House across from Lafayette Park.

The groups will be praying and standing in solidarity with their Christian brothers and sisters in Iraq as well as other religious minorities.

They will also be asking President Obama to personally engage on this issue and begin to reach out with American assistance.

Several will also be peacefully risking arrest to stand with those who are being imprisoned and tortured for their faith in Iraq.

One of the principal organizers, the Rev. Patrick Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition, who has a long history of working with Iraqi people and has meet and prayed with Prime Minister Maliki in Baghdad, states,

"It is unspeakable what is happening with Christians, Yazidis and religious minorities in Iraq. This genocide has taken the lives of thousands of people with many facing starvation, beheading, torture, murder and sexual assault while the world watches on in silence.

"Today, thousands of families and children have been driven from their homes by ISIS and are hiding in mountains facing starvation and torture for their religious beliefs.

"Sadly, President Obama has not personally spoken out against this violence and genocide and has not deployed the vast resources of the United States to help our precious brothers and sisters in Iraq.

"We are gathering at the White House on Saturday, to first pray and cry out to God for the protection of the persecuted church and other religious minorities in Iraq.  Throughout history, prayer has sustained the needy in times of violence and persecution.

"We will be also be calling on the President and his administration to personally speak out on this genocide and mobilize all the resources of the United States to assist with this global tragedy.

"The time to act is now.  We cannot be silent!"

For more information or interviews call
Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney at 540.538.4741