The UU Justice Ministry of North Carolina joins the call for justice for George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many other black lives that have been tragically taken.

We also bear witness to, in many instances, the continued militarization of the police in response to protests around the country and in our own backyard this week. 

In this moment we are called to recognize that, as Adrienne Maree Brown once said, "Things are not getting worse, that are getting uncovered." 

And yet, we are also hearing stories of hope. Like in Camden, New Jersey where police officers marched WITH protesters, chanting George Floyd's name. https://twitter.com/emma_stith/status/1266855821381718018?s=12 And in Houston's Third Ward, where, during a prayer vigil for George Floyd, white people knelt down before members of the black community to ask for forgiveness for years of racism. https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2020/06/01/video-white-people-kneel-ask-forgiveness-from-the-black-community-in-third-ward/

I share these stories and videos not to detract from the truth of police brutality, but to call us to a renewed hope that a more loving world is possible, and a renewed commitment to help create that world. 

In the coming days, weeks and months, the UU Justice Ministry of North Carolina will work alongside our congregations, the UUA, and most importantly our community partners of color to discern what actions we can take to combat systems of criminalization both locally and across our country. 

As UUA President, Susan Frederick-Gray has said, "Systems of policing and criminalization in this country are inherently violent, steeped in and created to reinforce white supremacy, anti-blackness, and racialized control."

We also invite you to join our Friday Action Hour every Friday at 11:00 am via Zoom where we make phone calls, send emails, and whatever else our partners call on us to do to create a more just world. We will continue to update our Action Hour Google Doc and our website uuforwardtogether.org with updates and actions you can take right now or in fellowship with others every Friday. 

Additionally, we'd like to draw your attention to this important list of actions created by the UUA Organizing Strategy Team this week.