Last week, on the 6-month anniversary of Stephon Clark's killing, Sacramento ACT clergy joined a demonstration outside of the CopsWest Expo marking the death of Stephon Clark and demanding accountability and transparency from law enforcement.
Pastor Elizabeth Griswold of Parkside Community Church (UCC) said:
"I was happy and honored to stand as a white woman wearing my clergy stole in a line of solidarity facing the police, to say you will need to move through me before you can go after the people behind me who are making a strong statement and who are taking a bigger risk than I am.
I believe in Restorative Justice and finding a broad way to change our cultural obsession with guns and violence. I believe in committing to one another to find ways to build the Beloved Community together. This is what my faith calls me to do and why I partner with Sacramento ACT. As a Christian, I don't see any higher calling."
Rev. Mary Westfall offers her reflection
below.
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Reflections of a Clergy Ally
The Rev. Dr. Mary E. Westfall
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We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes.
Until the killing of black men, black mothers' sons
is as important as the killing of white men, white mothers' sons
- "Ella's Song," Sweet Honey in the Rock
Standing arm in arm with faith leaders in the shadow of the Convention Center on that bright Tuesday morning, tensions rippling through the air, I was reminded of how often white Christians have failed to show up, speak out, stand with, risk safety or reputation on behalf of People of Color. With demonstrators at our backs and counter-protestors in front, I felt a compelling responsibility to stand firm, ignoring the rising fear in the pit of my stomach and the urge to be someplace else. As the intensity increased I watched more and more blue-uniformed police fill the space around us. Those nearest our "line" were bicycled officers - some of them looking so young and fresh-faced, others with gruff demeanor and weary looking eyes. Behind them gathered their more threatening looking colleagues armed with weapons that dispense tear gas, rubber bullets, electrical shock, in addition to the guns strapped to their bodies or carried in their arms. A chilling sight, seeming so out of place at a peaceful demonstration on the streets of the State Capitol on a beautiful September day.
Early afternoon the warning came, blasted over the police bullhorn, ordering us to leave or risk arrest or being fired upon. I have never been shot by rubber bullets or found myself gasping from tear gas, but I was aware of so many who had experienced such abuses and worse in pursuit of justice, freedom, human integrity. Over my shoulder I looked at the young activists, the brave bodies sliding into fabricated coffins to represent those who have been murdered by police and ahead of me I gazed upon a blue-clad phalanx poised to act. I thought of the mothers who have cradled the bodies of their bullet-riddled children, the young black men stopped in their cars merely for being black, the daily fears and tensions that do not fill my life but do fill the lives of so many. I remembered a challenge that came from a woman of color years ago declaring that things would not change until white people were willing to risk safety on behalf of People of Color.
Humbled by those who face fear daily, yet persist in pursuit of justice, ashamed of the systemic racism that crushes so many, reminded of the unearned privilege with which I move through the world, the words of a song rose within me, "until the killing of black men, black mothers' sons. . . is as important as the killing of white men. . . .we cannot rest until it comes." While the killing continues we cannot rest. We stand, together.
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ACT Environmental Justice Canvassing
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Sacramento Area Congregations Together (ACT) Environmental Justice Committee
and UUSS Interfaith Earth Justice
Join us to have first hand experience with the diverse people in the neighborhood of West Arden Arcade and to help raise their voices by hearing their concerns and getting out the vote.
Wednesday, October 10 @ UUSS @ 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Join us to learn more about this work and to participate in the planning. We've got a great group and our meetings are fun! Newcomer orientation at 6:30.
Saturday, October 20 @ UUSS @ 9:00 a.m.
We will canvass in West Arden Arcade with two purposes:
- Get out the vote and voter registration
- Listen to people's concerns about their community, especially related to environmental health
We will meet at UUSS at 9:00 for an hour of coffee, snacks and training. We will learn about some of the specific environmental hazards facing the neighborhood we canvass. Gabby Trejo, Executive Director of Sacramento ACT, will train us on how to canvas including some role playing, and answer any questions.
In addition, we are talking with Black Child Legacy and faith leaders in West Arden Arcade to join with others to address environmental racism and hazards in this area.
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Fall Canvasses Coming Soon! Save the Dates
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ACT will be hosting 3 canvasses on October 13th, October 27th, and November 3rd, we'll let you know as soon as we finalize the locations. We'll also have phone banks at the office from 6:30-8:30pm on October 8th, October 15, October 29th, and all day on November 6th (last day of the election). Please sign up here.
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School Board Candidates Forum
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The Black Parallel School Board's Candidates Forum
(Free and open to the public)
Featuring only Candidates seeking office for:
Sacramento City Unified School District Board (SCUSD)
Co-sponsors
: Sacramento Area Congregations Together (ACT) and Sacramento Area Black Caucus (SABC)
Confirmed and Participating Candidates
:
Lisa Murawski and
Anna
Molander Area I;
Ellen Cochrane, Cecile L. Nunley and Leticia Garcia, Area II; Darrell Woo and Jody S. Johnson, Area 6
Saturday, October 6, 2018
11:30am -1:30pm
Fruitridge Community Collaborative (Room5),
4625 44th Street, Sacramento, CA 95817
For more info:
(916) 484-3729
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Education, C
ontact Tere Flores at
tere@sacact.org
for location and more information on September meeting
Environmental Justice, Second Wednesdays, at 7pm at Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento, contact Gabby Trejo at gabby@sacact.org for more information
Homelessness & Housing,
3rd Fridays,10 am to 12 pm, contact Carlos Montes-Ponce at
Live Free, Third Thursdays, 6:30 pm, contact Ryan McClinton at
ryan@sacact.org for location and more information
Reinvestment, 1st and 3rd Thursday
at 2:30,
contact Ryan McClinton at
ryan@sacact.org
for location and more information
Youth Justice, every other Thursday, 5 pm to 7 pm, contact Tere Flores at
tere@sacact.org for location and more information
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Thank you to all our donors who enable ACT's work to transform our community!
Can you donate $25 to support our work with youth to transform the juvenile justice system?
Donate here.
If you prefer, you can mail a check to Sacramento ACT, 2409 15th Street, Sacramento, CA 95818.
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What We Are Reading This Week
The views and opinions expressed are those of the original authors and other contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Sacramento ACT. We share them for education and formation purposes.
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Join us to transform Sacramento!
Sincerely,
Gabby Trejo
Executive Director
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