The Revolutionary Love Bus Arrives at Saint Mary’s

In 2021, civil rights leader and bestselling author Valarie Kaur spoke to SMC students at a virtual event, inspiring all with stories from her book, See No Stranger. In turn, Kaur was so impressed by our students that when it came time to plan her in-person Revolutionary Love Bus tour this fall, she included Saint Mary’s on her schedule. On October 8, Kaur performed on stage in Moreau Center for the Arts’ Little Theatre. 

Coordinated by Molly Gower, assistant professor of Religious Studies and Theology, the evening was an immersive experience of storytelling, music, song, ancestral wisdom, and community-building. Based on the lived experience of Kaur and her fellow performers, Gower said, “Valarie and her guest artists shared how their ancestors survived seemingly apocalyptic times, and provided teaching tools to lead with Revolutionary Love in daily life.” 

Kaur was joined on stage by musicians Nirinjan Kaur, Khalsa-Baker, and Qais Essar. Also joining was trumpeter and singer Sonny Singh, an artist well-known for his distinct Punjabi and Sikh music. Singh wrote an album to accompany Kaur’s latest book Sage Warrior, which explores the traditional tales of Sikh history through the perspective of the female characters.

According to her bio, Kaur became an activist when a Sikh father and family friend was the first person murdered in hate violence in the aftermath of 9/11. Since then, Kaur has led visionary campaigns to tell untold stories and change policy on issues ranging from hate crimes to digital freedom. Herself a daughter of Punjabi Sikh farmers in California, Kaur shares her vision in her 2017 TED Talk “3 Stages of Revolutionary Love in a Time of Rage”, and in her Los Angeles Times bestseller See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love. In fall 2022, Kaur was honored at the White House in the first-ever Uniters Ceremony, recognizing her as a prophetic leader whose work is healing America.

When creating the Revolutionary Love tour, Kaur envisioned an event where audience members would come away with the tools to lead with love in their everyday lives. According to tour manager Anusha Mehar, the project shares this message with each community on the 40+-city tour. 

The group arrived at Saint Mary’s early in the afternoon on their branded tour bus. Prior to taking the stage, Kaur led a private workshop with select students from Saint Mary’s. Immediately following the performance, the group joined the SMC community at a chai tea reception, in the lobby of O’Laughlin Auditorium.

October 11, 2024