Mustafa Santiago Ali
Dr. Mustafa Santiago Ali is the Executive Vice President of Conservation & Justice for the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), former Interim Chief of Programs at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), and Instructor at American University. He is the Founder and CEO of Revitalization Strategies. He also serves as a commissioner for The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS). He is an award-winning writer and poet focused on social justice. Dr. Ali is frequently seen on television, including appearances on MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, VICE, FUSE, BET, National Geographic, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, and Democracy NOW! Mustafa is also a regular guest on Roland Martin Unfiltered, Black News Channel, Tavis Smiley Show, The Dean Obeidallah Show, and many others…
Editor's Note: This poem is the 95th in our Democracy and Hope Series. This series will highlight hopeful aspects about our Democracy using various genres including poems, interviews, short stories, and articles about political events
Most merciful Creator, We come to You with heavy hearts, mourning the lives lost in the tragic collision at Reagan National Airport. We lift up the souls of those who perished—civilians and military personnel alike—those who served, those who traveled, those who dreamed. May they find rest in the embrace of ancestors, lifted by a grace stronger than the wings that faltered.
For their families, we pray for comfort beyond words, for a peace that defies the sorrow pressing against their chests. Hold them close in their grief, guide them through the shadows of loss, and remind them that love is never truly lost, only transformed.
For the first responders—the ones who dive deep into dark waters, who carried the weight of this moment on their backs—we ask for strength, for resilience, for healing. May they find solace in knowing they gave their all in the face of devastation. Let their hands remain steady, their hearts unburdened by what they have seen.
And for all who now carry this tragedy in their spirit, may we not grow numb to loss. May we honor these lives not just in mourning but in our commitment to safety, to care, to community. Let this moment remind us of the fragile thread that binds us, the duty we have to hold each other close.
In grace, in grief, in remembrance, we pray. Amen. #DCA #AmericanAirlines