Will you choose fear and hate, or grief and love?
This week, horrifying videos have once again offered witness to the racial injustice present in our criminal justice system. A 37-year-old father of 5, Alton Sterling was shot by police officers while selling music in Baton Rouge, and 32-year-old Philando Castile was shot by police officers in his car in St. Paul with his young daughter in the back seat.
The following day, snipers acted in retaliation at a peaceful protest against police violence in Dallas, killing 5 officers and injuring more.
In this difficult time, we turn to the people who can lead us in prophetic grief – turning our collective mourning into a united front for peaceful action. Here’s what they’re saying.
What we say & do in the next 24 hours matters. Will you choose fear&hate or grief&love? Why there are #nobystanders: pic.twitter.com/fWeK5X7xUy
— Valarie Kaur (@valariekaur) July 8, 2016
Pastor @om3 wants us to Pray & Protest for #AltonSterling #PhilandoCastile & others #1000MileJourney pic.twitter.com/kzUmorKVEG
— MLKMemorialChicago (@MLKMemorialChi) July 7, 2016
Black men are routinely brutalized by our justice system, from police to courts to prisons. It has to change or there is no true justice.
— Sister Helen Prejean (@helenprejean) July 7, 2016
Rally against police brutality, Union Square, NYC. @AuburnSeminary pic.twitter.com/sTfbebkaHy
— Courtney Weber (@thecocowitch) July 7, 2016
It’s our time to stand strong. It’s our time to stand in truth & fight for justice! https://t.co/UP6BmYvBPi #PhilandoCastile #AltonSterling
— Rev. Dr. Barber (@RevDrBarber) July 7, 2016
This morning, Big Mama is still singing the blues. #HowLong #AltonSterling #PhilandoCastille https://t.co/FacR8X8XdL via @YouTube
— Michael-Ray Mathews (@mrmathews) July 7, 2016
Yes. It’s possible. You can be just as outraged over murder of a black man selling CDs by a cop as you can over the murder of cop.
— Linda Sarsour (@lsarsour) July 8, 2016
There is so much pain being felt & expressed over the continued killing of young Black men by police. My heart is broken. @iamccda
— Noel Castellanos (@NoelCCDA) July 7, 2016
“With each shot they snatched back white dominion over black bodies. —@lisasharper” https://t.co/71MzVtXwG4 via @Sojourners
— Jim Wallis (@jimwallis) July 7, 2016
Only winner in these tragic shootings- the gun manufacturers. But why hold them accountable? #Dallas #NotOneMore
— R’SharonBrous (@SharonBrous) July 8, 2016
#AltonSterling #PhilandoCastile in two days. The racism must be named and dismantled. #BLM #PropheticGrief https://t.co/Rxw4Nva9BZ
— Rev.Dr.Jacqui Lewis (@RevJacquiLewis) July 7, 2016
Hate engenders hate. Fear stirs up fear. But love inspires love. That’s why we need to overcome evil with good and hate with love.
— Brian D. McLaren (@brianmclaren) July 8, 2016
My heart is anguished! Violence only escalates fear. We need communal love to bring us together. Re-weave the fabric of our society.
— Sr. Simone Campbell (@sr_simone) July 8, 2016
If you’re going to choose a side today, then choose the side of love. #PrayForDallas #DallasProtest pic.twitter.com/Jx0ztJraQI
— Khalid Latif (@KLatif) July 8, 2016
“I know that God and love are greater than the fear I believe is at the root of these shootings.” -Rev. John Vaughn pic.twitter.com/QxMHRqBP59
— Auburn (@AuburnSeminary) July 7, 2016
Police killing citizens is terrorism, enforcing white supremacy.#philandocastile #AltonSterling #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/4goOk0M6z4
— omid safi (@ostadjaan) July 7, 2016
“It’s time to get out of the pews and into the streets” https://t.co/QKLixNttxA pic.twitter.com/UeuKxAwZUs
— Paul B. Raushenbush (@raushenbush) July 8, 2016
Which Voices leave you wanting to hear more? Email us ideas for interviews at [email protected].
