Dear WUU Community,
It has been a hard week in my hometown of Minneapolis, and across our nation.
With you, I mourn the death of George Floyd, murdered in horrific slow motion by a police officer as passersby begged him to stop. And so many others whose names have become a byword for violence fueled by white supremacy: Ahmaud Arbery, murdered by vigilantes as he jogged along the street. Breonna Taylor, shot to death by police when they burst into her home without warning. And the list goes on. Philandro Castile, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, Freddie Gray, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin…their names echo on our tongues in a litany of grief, rage, fear, and despair that seemingly will not stop.
Now, as communities across the country rise up to demand justice, outside agitators are starting fires, trying to provoke the police and protesters alike into violent action. Presidential tweets are only making things worse. The stress of the Covid-19 pandemic, with all its economic and personal fallout, makes everything even harder. But in this moment, we can choose to ally ourselves with those who so rightly call for police reforms and an end to violence against black and brown bodies.
This Sunday, June 7, I invite you to come together in community for a special Black Lives Matter worship service—to grieve, to listen to voices from the front lines, to seek hope, and to recommit ourselves to the work of racial justice. We will postpone our Flower Communion service to June 21 so that we can be more fully present to what’s happening right now.
For now, I offer you a prayer. First, for peace and safety, for all people and especially for black and brown people. Then, for courage, for all whose hunger for justice leads them to protect others even at great personal risk. Finally, for love. May we all remember and know that we are held in a great and infinite sea of love, no matter what. And may we, imperfect as we are, be vessels of that love, now and always. May it be so.
Yours in faith and love,
Rev. Laura
P.S. Many of us may be feeling personally called more deeply into the work of racial justice right now. It was good to see many of you at the #BLM witness at the WJCC Courthouse yesterday; much gratitude goes to Jessica Sapalio for organizing a Covid-safe car parade as part of the event. I’m also grateful to Jessica for sharing some ways that you can get involved with WUU’s ongoing racial justice work. These are her words:
Williamsburg Unitarian Universalists are deeply committed to racial justice. Much of our current work focuses on creating change in the criminal justice system, which adversely affects and often targets African Americans. There are several opportunities to get involved:
- WUU is part of the Virginia COVID-19 Justice Coalition, which is calling for the release as many people as possible, as quickly as possible, and that state officials have transparency and oversight in their response to COVID-19 in jails and prisons. There are currently more than 1200 incarcerated people who have tested positive in Virginia. Watch and share this video www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXNsbxQQjx4 and then email or call the Governor AND the Secretary of Public Safety by using this link www.justice4all.org/free-our-people-2.
- Join our court watch program. We are identifying racial disparities in our court system and working with officials to make change. Although we can’t be in the courtrooms right now, we will hold trainings for new members. Email socialjustice@wuu.org to learn more.
- Now more than ever incarcerated people could use a connection with people on the outside. Consider becoming a penpal through the WorthyNow penpal program. Visit https://worthynow.org/pen-pals/.
- Request your absentee ballot for November to be able to vote safely from home. Vote your UU values to make change! https://vote.elections.virginia.gov/VoterInformation
- Participate in the Black Lives Matter Lemonade stand when we’re able to safely return to the farmer’s market. Contact jessicaobrien100@gmail.com.