New York Conference United Church of Christ
Statement Condemning the Racist Actions
in Minnesota, New York, Kentucky, and Georgia
And will not God grant justice to God’s chosen ones who cry to God day and night? Will God delay long in helping them?
Luke 18:7
In recent weeks our nation has witnessed more egregious acts of racism. These actions have taken the lives of George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, KY, and Ahmaud Arbery in Glynn County, GA. These murders are nothing less than 21 st century lynchings. In addition, racially spurious 911 calls made by a white woman in New York’s Central Park and a white man at a gym in Minneapolis, MN, against innocent black men, further perpetuates the historical roots of racism woven into the fabric of this nation. These murders and unnecessary 911 calls are hateful actions of white people intended to instill terror in persons of color. There is no place for such acts of hostility and bias within a civilized society. Time has long passed for white individuals and recalcitrant law enforcement officers to be held accountable for their blatant disregard of black and brown bodies.
At a time when our world is deeply impacted by a pandemic that has clearly unveiled the gross racial inequities of our country’s health care system, we are once again faced with the dehumanization, discrimination and lynching of African Americans at the hands of white people. The staff and churches of the New York Conference condemn these immoral acts, and as people of faith we cannot… WE MUST NOT remain silent in the face of this loss of human life and dignity. We must boldly condemn all forms of racism, bigotry, and discrimination. Hateful ideology and acts are incompatible with the message and promise of the Christian faith.
Therefore, we demand that our lawmakers guarantee that this nation live up to its ideals of liberty and justice for all. We further call upon our political leaders to utilize the power of their offices to engage in the long deep work of dismantling racism through legislation and judicial accountability. We demand that civilian courts be established to judge uncalled for violent actions of police officers resulting in bodily harm and death. We demand that legislation be introduced that criminalizes unnecessary 911 calls aimed at terrorizing persons of color. We must ensure that every person has the right to live without fear, regardless of color or nationality. We must never again hear the words “I Can’t Breathe” from another human being enduring excessive violent behavior from law enforcement officers.
Rev. David Gaewski,
Conference Minister
Statement Condemning the Racist Actions
in Minnesota, New York, Kentucky, and Georgia
And will not God grant justice to God’s chosen ones who cry to God day and night? Will God delay long in helping them?
Luke 18:7
In recent weeks our nation has witnessed more egregious acts of racism. These actions have taken the lives of George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN, Breonna Taylor in Louisville, KY, and Ahmaud Arbery in Glynn County, GA. These murders are nothing less than 21 st century lynchings. In addition, racially spurious 911 calls made by a white woman in New York’s Central Park and a white man at a gym in Minneapolis, MN, against innocent black men, further perpetuates the historical roots of racism woven into the fabric of this nation. These murders and unnecessary 911 calls are hateful actions of white people intended to instill terror in persons of color. There is no place for such acts of hostility and bias within a civilized society. Time has long passed for white individuals and recalcitrant law enforcement officers to be held accountable for their blatant disregard of black and brown bodies.
At a time when our world is deeply impacted by a pandemic that has clearly unveiled the gross racial inequities of our country’s health care system, we are once again faced with the dehumanization, discrimination and lynching of African Americans at the hands of white people. The staff and churches of the New York Conference condemn these immoral acts, and as people of faith we cannot… WE MUST NOT remain silent in the face of this loss of human life and dignity. We must boldly condemn all forms of racism, bigotry, and discrimination. Hateful ideology and acts are incompatible with the message and promise of the Christian faith.
Therefore, we demand that our lawmakers guarantee that this nation live up to its ideals of liberty and justice for all. We further call upon our political leaders to utilize the power of their offices to engage in the long deep work of dismantling racism through legislation and judicial accountability. We demand that civilian courts be established to judge uncalled for violent actions of police officers resulting in bodily harm and death. We demand that legislation be introduced that criminalizes unnecessary 911 calls aimed at terrorizing persons of color. We must ensure that every person has the right to live without fear, regardless of color or nationality. We must never again hear the words “I Can’t Breathe” from another human being enduring excessive violent behavior from law enforcement officers.
Rev. David Gaewski,
Conference Minister