A new banner proclaiming ‘Black Lives Matter’ will soon hang from the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Nashua, starting February 12, 2017. This historic congregation, founded in 1826, is displaying the banner as part of a multi-year initiative focusing on education and action towards racial justice.
The church’s Social Justice Leadership Team chose Black Lives Matter and racial justice as a focus for the congregation this past fall. Longtime church member Robert Keating says: “This banner is a visible statement of our commitment as a church community to stand with our sisters and brothers of color and their allies to work to dismantle systemic racism and achieve racial equality.” Additional education and action are also underway at the church, including an 8-week workshop on “Being White in a Racist World.” The Black Lives Matter banner has been displayed at the front of the sanctuary since January 15, when it was introduced as part of the congregation’s annual service honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Rev. Palm, who has served the congregation since August 2015, has been a strong supporter of Black Lives Matter since its inception. “Hanging this banner is both a statement of our vision for the world and a commitment to do the hard work needed to further that vision,” says Palm. “As Unitarian Universalists, we believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person. At the same time, we live in a society in which black people and people of color have consistently been devalued by our institutions. We are called by our faith and our principles to proclaim that Black Lives Matter, and to work to end systemic racism and white supremacy.”
A ringing endorsement for this project came from the church’s Board of Trustees, which issued a letter of support on January 11, 2017: “We understand that some folks see the Black Lives Matter movement as controversial, as if valuing people of color somehow devalues other lives. We believe all our lives are devalued as long as skin color still leads to different treatment for some and different outcomes for others. Sadly, bias and injustice still exist. Whether that injustice is hidden or overt, cruel or subtle, quiet or loud, we can no longer sit idly by.”
Black Lives Matter (BlackLivesMatter.com) is a national network of grassroots organizations that was founded in 2012 by three black women, Patrisse Cullors, Opal Tometi and Alicia Garza. They originated the phrase after George Zimmerman, a white man, was acquitted for the murder of Trayvon Martin, a young black man. Black Lives Matter is a multi-faceted movement working to name and correct the many ways black lives are devalued in our society.
The UU Church of Nashua joins over 150 Unitarian Universalist congregations across the country which already display Black Lives Matter banners. The national Unitarian Universalist Association strongly supports Black Lives Matter, announcing in a powerful endorsement in 2015, “allowing injustice to go unchallenged violates our principles… [W]e must continue to support the Black Lives Matter movement and Black-led racial justice organizations.”
On February 12, the congregation will move the banner outside at 11:15 am, just after the 10 am Sunday morning worship service. All are welcome to attend. Rev. Palm will lead a short ceremony to bless the banner before the congregation places it between the church’s classical columns above the main entrance on Canal Street in Nashua.