This video is a first hand account by Rev.Traci Blackmon, of a peaceful multi-faith worship service that was interrupted and surrounded by white supremacists. The worshippers were prevented from leaving the church by the mob with torches and chanting "blood and soil" for thirty minutes. They were carrying torches and baseball bats. The white supremacists had no legal right to be there or detain those individuals, but the silence about events like this one is what is troubling. When the President mentioned Friday night he said "There were people in that rally, and I looked the night before" he said.."If you look, they were people protesting very quietly the taking down of the statue..."
On the Tragedy in Charlottesville
In the light of the tragic events in Charlottesville Va, the topic of racism and racial hatred has once again become an important headline. This has brought back questions about the KKK, free-speech, and statues to the confederacy. Firstly, the gospel of Jesus Christ runs counter to the beliefs of the white supremacists. The gospel expresses that God has reconciled humanity to God-self and to one another in Jesus Christ. When Paul stated that There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus (Gal 3:28) he was stating a new reality and consequence of Jesus' resurrection for the world. No longer would we have to allow our differences to stand in the way of fellowship and community. All who have been baptized have now been made part of a new family with a new identity, and a new Lord through the outpouring of God's Spirit at Pentecost. There is no question, the ideologies of the white supremacists cannot in anyway be compatible with Christian belief. It must be condemned and rejected outright.
I have included several posts stating the views of several Christian churches that addresses issues of race, ethnicity and hate. It is time for the church to drop any silence on these issues and with one voice stand as a witness to the love that God asks us to have for one another. I agree with the editorial by Jill Duffield of Presbyterian Outlook, that the most significant issue at stake is that the church denounce racism and the evil represented by the white supremacists groups.
One incident, that many people I have spoken to this week were unaware of, was what unfolded at a prayer service in a church in Charlottesville, where hundreds (estimates were as high as six hundred) of white supremacists surrounded the church while worshippers were inside and held them hostage for thirty minutes chanting slogans. While white supremacists have had marches in the past, the large gathering, the carrying of the tiki torches, and the targeting of a church (without a legal permit to protest) all show an escalation in the actions of these white supremacist groups. At least in my lifetime, I do not recall an instance like this. Inside a number of clergy, parishioners, worshippers and visitors endured without police protection not only the chants but the uncertainty of might happen to them. These are the kinds of stories that we need to tell about Charlottesville. On Saturday, the unnecessary and tragic death of a protester, Heather Heyer, is heart breaking along with two officer's that died while performing their duties. These tragedies are a painful reminder that hate and hate groups will often lead to violent terrorist actions that kill and destroy lives. My prayers are with the family and friends of those affected by this tragedy.
Secondly, there is the issue is issue of the Confederate Statues. This was the event that brought about the protests of the white supremacists in the first place, so it is closely related to the events in Charlottesville. Scripture tells us that we should be aware of issues that cause our brothers and sisters offense (1 Cor 8:13, Matt 27:17). Out of love, we should be sensitive to the fact that certain images and representation such as flags, monuments, or statues may be painful reminders of a history that we would rather forget. A history of slavery, oppression, segregation, hate and lynching is part of the African American community's history. It is part of the history of the entire United States. Christians that do not share this same history and experience should be willing to listen, learn, and thoughtfully respond to the story, experience, and pain of the African American community. We should remember that this really is a shared history. What primarily unites us as Christians is not our national or social identities but our baptismal identity in Jesus Christ. That is our first and foremost relationship with each other. It transcends all other relationships. Therefore, the church should never allow these kinds of symbols in spaces of worship.
Now as citizens of the United States, we share our country with people from many diverse backgrounds and experiences. As such, the national and local debates about particular racial issues will be debated and discussed. Eventually for better or for worse, we will make legal decisions about policy, either on a local, state or national level such as the statue removal. Creative solutions may be a key here. Is it possible to have memorials that honor the dead who fought for the South in the civil war and are still sensitive to the legacy of slavery and the African American experience and removing symbols deemed as racist? While we share one American experience, clearly the stories and feelings about, for example, the civil war, will diverge greatly depending on the point of view. We however cannot dismiss the painful legacy of those symbols that included slavery and oppression.
One incident, that many people I have spoken to this week were unaware of, was what unfolded at a prayer service in a church in Charlottesville, where hundreds (estimates were as high as six hundred) of white supremacists surrounded the church while worshippers were inside and held them hostage for thirty minutes chanting slogans. While white supremacists have had marches in the past, the large gathering, the carrying of the tiki torches, and the targeting of a church (without a legal permit to protest) all show an escalation in the actions of these white supremacist groups. At least in my lifetime, I do not recall an instance like this. Inside a number of clergy, parishioners, worshippers and visitors endured without police protection not only the chants but the uncertainty of might happen to them. These are the kinds of stories that we need to tell about Charlottesville. On Saturday, the unnecessary and tragic death of a protester, Heather Heyer, is heart breaking along with two officer's that died while performing their duties. These tragedies are a painful reminder that hate and hate groups will often lead to violent terrorist actions that kill and destroy lives. My prayers are with the family and friends of those affected by this tragedy.
Secondly, there is the issue is issue of the Confederate Statues. This was the event that brought about the protests of the white supremacists in the first place, so it is closely related to the events in Charlottesville. Scripture tells us that we should be aware of issues that cause our brothers and sisters offense (1 Cor 8:13, Matt 27:17). Out of love, we should be sensitive to the fact that certain images and representation such as flags, monuments, or statues may be painful reminders of a history that we would rather forget. A history of slavery, oppression, segregation, hate and lynching is part of the African American community's history. It is part of the history of the entire United States. Christians that do not share this same history and experience should be willing to listen, learn, and thoughtfully respond to the story, experience, and pain of the African American community. We should remember that this really is a shared history. What primarily unites us as Christians is not our national or social identities but our baptismal identity in Jesus Christ. That is our first and foremost relationship with each other. It transcends all other relationships. Therefore, the church should never allow these kinds of symbols in spaces of worship.
Now as citizens of the United States, we share our country with people from many diverse backgrounds and experiences. As such, the national and local debates about particular racial issues will be debated and discussed. Eventually for better or for worse, we will make legal decisions about policy, either on a local, state or national level such as the statue removal. Creative solutions may be a key here. Is it possible to have memorials that honor the dead who fought for the South in the civil war and are still sensitive to the legacy of slavery and the African American experience and removing symbols deemed as racist? While we share one American experience, clearly the stories and feelings about, for example, the civil war, will diverge greatly depending on the point of view. We however cannot dismiss the painful legacy of those symbols that included slavery and oppression.
At the end of the day, I am in favor of removing certain confederate monuments for reasons given here. However, for those communities that refuse to remove such offensive statues and memorials, protests for those who disagree should always be peaceful, as our constitution guarantees the right to address grievances to the government. In the national conversation about the confederate statues, a video speech by Mayor Mitch Landrieu of New Orleans lays out a very well thought out rational for the removal of these monuments as well as the unique history of many of these monuments. I believe that everyone should listen to this speech. I have included it at the bottom of this page and it is really well worth the time and attention.
Lastly, I have also included a video of a first hand account of what happened at the church in Charlottesville at the top of this page. White supremacy has been on the rise and we have been seeing a radicalization of people across the world and across the spectrum. This is an example of this escalation. For the church therefore, this is a time to engage with each other and our world and to be a witness of God's love and grace. May God grant us wisdom in these times to faithfully witness to God's truth, Christ's love and the Spirit's calling.
Lastly, I have also included a video of a first hand account of what happened at the church in Charlottesville at the top of this page. White supremacy has been on the rise and we have been seeing a radicalization of people across the world and across the spectrum. This is an example of this escalation. For the church therefore, this is a time to engage with each other and our world and to be a witness of God's love and grace. May God grant us wisdom in these times to faithfully witness to God's truth, Christ's love and the Spirit's calling.
Mayor of New Orleans speech on the topic of monuments to the confederacy
The following are links to statements from other Christian denominations speaking to or condemning the racist marchers that showed up at Charlottesville to promote white supremacists and alt-right ideals.
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