The United States of America has historically dealt with the sin of racism in many forms. It is also clear that there seems to be a climate in the U.S. now that has reignited racial and social animosities.
A speaker addresses a crowd gathered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to stand in solidarity with the city of Charlottesville, Virginia. Photo by Fibonacci Blue
The RCA’s African American Black Council (AABC) has issued this statement in response to a white supremacist rally and violence against counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, over the weekend.
We commend interim general secretary Don Poest for his words on Charlottesville and thank him for doing so quickly. Immediately in the aftermath on Saturday, the AABC Executive Committee met. With consultation from the entire council, the executive committee felt compelled to pen a response to Charlottesville—even obligated to do so constitutionally by its mandate in the Book of Church Order.
The United States of America has historically dealt with the sin of racism in many forms. It is also clear that there seems to be a climate in the U.S. now that has reignited racial and social animosities, reversed improvements in race relations, divided people, and fostered hatred that has led to totalitarian impulses, xenophobic biases, and bigoted ideologies.
We are living in times when equivocating on these matters furthers the sin of racism even to violence, as we have witnessed in Charlottesville. We witnessed this as a former KKK leader announced at the rally, “We’re going to fulfill the promises of Donald Trump.” We also witnessed this with President Trump’s lack of naming the facilitators of the rally.
The African American Black Council stands with Don Poest in his statement. We encourage RCA members from both the U.S. and Canada to reflect on the AABC report from this past General Synod, and to do the ongoing work of anti-racism through preaching, training, and living that opposes all forms of racism and bigotry, including white supremacy.
The African American Black Council Executive Committee
Deidre Dodson Fiscus
Hellen Harvey
Jo Anna Lougin
Regina Reid
James Steward
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