Published on the United Church of Christ website and weekly e-newsletter: http://www.ucc.org/justice_racism
Charge (using chants from #blacklivesmatter protests)
When racism goes unchecked, unacknowledged, unrecognized,
We will shut it down.
Until #blacklivesmatter in all our communities, and in every place,
We will shut it down.
When the Beloved Community is violated by violence and abuse of power,
We will shut it down.
Until the hope of a new day of freedom is made real in our midst,
We will shut it down.
If we hear our sisters and brothers, our kindred and communities crying out, “I can’t breathe,”
then we must stay in the struggle; we cannot leave.
Through God’s grace, in God’s love, with God’s help,
we’re not going to stop until the people are free.
Go into the world to fight for freedom.
Go into our communities to struggle for justice.
Go into the streets to work in solidarity.
Go into the boardrooms and courtrooms, police stations and council meetings,
to make a way out of no way.
Go into each endeavor to love one another.
We have nothing to lose but our chains.