Church erects banner in dedication of the Black Lives Matter movement

More than 100 people celebrated the dedication of the Black Lives Matter banner at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Poughkeepsie July 15.

Tin Horn Uprising set a spirited tone with lively renditions of “Down by the Riverside” and “Wade in the Water” along with Black Lives Matter lyrics.

The Rev. Walter LeFlore spoke about the months-long process during which the Unitarian Universalist congregation discussed institutional racism, mass incarceration of people of color and white privilege. Thus, the banner was raised when the congregation reached a consensus expressed by their statement: "Our decision to display the banner is an act of public witness. Our intention is to keep the spotlight on the issue of racism and its effect on people in this country from slavery to today. We affirm the inherent worth and dignity of all lives, but in a growing culture of 'anti-blackness,' violence, anger and hate we choose to stand as a beacon of light in an otherwise darkening world."

VALLEY VIEWS: Group explains decision to display 'Black Lives Matter' banner

End the New Jim Crow Action Network leader Rasonia Squire energized the crowd in a chant of “Black Lives. . .” answered by “Matter.” She reminded the gathering that black women “mothers, sisters, daughters, people” are also the victims of police shootings (#SayHerName). Her young grandson, Semaj Higgs, 6, and other relatives and friends: Jaqui Woods, 8; Tamiya Tolbert, 8; and Desire Peterson-Fleming, 10, helped to raise the banner.

Nick Garin, co-chair of the UUFP Social Justice Committee at the fellowship, spoke about his journey from Southern indifference to the civil rights struggle to active participation in the movement for racial justice. Jen Brown, a spokeswoman for Race Unity Circle, mentioned the different guises of racism in our nation’s history from the creation of race to perpetuate slavery “even before we were a country” to Black Codes, share cropping (near slavery), Jim Crow segregation and lynchings, chain gangs (free penal labor) and today’s mass incarceration with its 10 cents per hour slave wages.

Peter Heyman, who is working along with ENJAN to bring the Undoing Racism Workshop this fall to Dutchess, said the purpose of the weekend-long experience was not to “point fingers at white people” but to examine the institutional racism in all sectors of society and to build community-organizing strategies. The decade’s old organization with deep roots in the civil rights movement, the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond will staff the workshop.

Souls United of the Hudson Valley, an a capella chorale group, sang several gospel songs in perfect harmony. The children chanted: “Black Lives Matter, it needs more chatter, so help us when we yelp, Black Lives Matter.”

Geri Willmott is a community activist who works with ENJAN (End the New Jim Crow Action Network) and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Poughkeepsie.