Media roundup: Countering racism with messages of love and support

Media roundup: Countering racism with messages of love and support

A weekly guide to stories about Unitarian Universalists from other media sources.

Rachel Walden

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Hundreds of community members gathered last weekend in Murfreesboro, Tennessee to mark the two-year anniversary of the first Love Your Neighbor Picnic, originally organized in response to a protest against a local Islamic Center. Each year participation has increased. This year, members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Murfreesboro joined the gathering and made button badges for attendees. ( Daily News Journal– 10.23.17)

In response to a number of incidences of racist graffiti and vandalism in towns in eastern Massachusetts, the Boston Mayor’s office of Resilience and Racial Equity is facilitating a faith based conversation on race with the support of local churches including Theodore Parker Unitarian Universalist Church in West Roxbury. The Rev. Anne Bancroft, minister at Theodore Parker, said her congregation’s participation in this event is part of their ongoing commitment to working for racial justice. ( Wicked Local West Roxbury– 10.22.17)

Towson Unitarian Universalist Church recently had their Black Lives Matter banner stolen for the seventh time since the church first installed it in October 2016. In November, the church will host a community conversation about why it has chosen to display the banner and invite a dialogue about racism. The Rev. Clare Petersberger, minister of the congregation, sees the repeated vandalism as a sign that the banner carries an important message. ( Towson Patch– 10.23.17)

North Carolina congregation hosts LGBTQ youth conference

In the wake of North Carolina’s House Bill 2, the so-called “bathroom bill,” and the current political climate in the state, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winston-Salem is hosting an LGBTQ Youth Educators Conference at their congregation. Ben Hunter, congregation member and one of the conference organizers, said a goal of the conference is to build up allies in the state’s educational communities so students have support in case they can’t find that support in their homes. ( Winston-Salem Journal– 10.26.17)

State action network makes news with name change

The Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey now has a new name, Unitarian Universalist FaithAction New Jersey, as well as a new logo, an updated mission statement and upgraded social media platforms. "The new name, logo . . . are all part of the continued growth and development of our 200-plus year commitment to furthering social justice and compassionate action here in the Garden State," said the Rev. Rob Gregson, UU FaithAction NJ Executive Director. ( TAPinto.net– 10.25.17)

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