Wondering why people are saying Black Lives Matter rather than All Lives Matter?

Join us for these events to learn about the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, what in U.S. history has led to the creation of this movement, what is happening currently in relation to racism on a systemic and on a personal level, how our local police are understanding and responding to African-Americans and the BLM movement, and how white individuals experience white privilege.

In thinking about all of this, the Peace and Justice Committee is creating a series of programs that can address these issues. We want to help all of us learn more about what our African-American neighbors and friends experience so that we can be better able to support them and be effective allies — and to understand how addressing racism in all its forms will benefit all of us. In addition to the Coming Out White and Privileged program which is running now, we have three programs planned for the rest of 2016, with other ideas that we are developing for the new year. We will also be adding resources on BLM to the library at church.

The Coming Out White and Privileged group has a page on Facebook.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS REAL PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN CANCELED – IT WILL BE RESCHEDULED IN THE SPRING!
Saturday, November 12, 7:00 – 8:30 — Performance Piece — THIS IS REAL: Talk about race and privilege. Expect the unexpected in this performance piece during which people of color and white people tell the truth. The difficult truth, the not-pretty truth, the this-may-make-you- uncomfortable truth, the honest truth. Expect to be uncomfortable, grateful, moved, inspired, and thrust into new territory with regard to dismantling racism. Filled with hope,humor and hard-hitting reality, this piece will leave you with questions and new insights — which is why there is a talk-back after the performance so you can wrestle with the issues and articulate strategies for moving forward. Child care will be available. Cast: Heidi Nortonsmith, Louis Mitchell, Marcia Gomes, Jennifer Ladd, Gina Nortonsmith, Jo Comerford, Tobias Davis, Andrea Ayvazian.

Tuesday, December 6, 5:30 – 7:30 — Conversation with Jody Kasper, Police Chief, Northampton — This will be a Soup, Salad and Social Change event with a presentation by Jody Kasper and an opportunity to ask questions. Child care will be available.

Coming In 2017 — A presentation on how the Black Lives Matter movement fits into the history of African-American freedom and liberation movements…
A workshop on the commonalities of oppressive systems and structures, the “isms” of our time….
A sermon by a black pastor….
Showing of the film, 13th, a recent release that focuses on the prison industry, how it developed, and how it is penalizing young African-American men….
Identifying the actions we can take to support the Black Lives Matter movement….
Please join us at one or more of these special events.

–– Karen Browne-Courage, Lisa Hall, Doug Renick and Andrea Ayvazian