All-Church Read! – September through November, 2021, Racial Justice Committee will sponsor an all-church read of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson. Four small groups will be offered as zoom book discussions. A variety of dates and times will be available. The first group begins September 22. Please sign up early. If you cannot attend one of the groups, we will provide an opportunity for members to indicate their participation by committing to read Wilkerson’s book by the end of November. Our ministers will be preaching on various topics of racial justice in the fall.
Racial Justice Committee had a busy summer in spite of COVID. In June we participated in the city-wide Journey to Juneteenth by hosting a water station for the Freedom Walk at Depot Park. A total of 256 registrants signed in. The Racial Justice Book Group continued through the summer with three monthly meetings. The selected book was Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent by Isabel Wilkerson. We had 7 – 8 regular members attend.
We printed New Member Packets and brochures for Time and Talent on August 29. The committee is in the process of contacting all listed Committee Members and also Community Support members to determine their participation for the remainder of 2021 through May 2022.
The Equal Justice Initiative installation of the Gainesville Memorial Plaque for the 12 Gainesville lynching victims has been postponed until October 23. More about information in the coming weeks. Several members of our committee have continued to work throughout the summer to plan and coordinate with Alachua County for this historic event. This continues UCG’s support of the process of Truth and Reconciliation begun in 2017. This will be a continued emphasis by the committee.
Racial Justice Committee supported a proposal by City Commissioner Johnson to file a complaint against Florida HB 1, The Anti-Riot Bill. This bill has been challenged as an “anti-protest” bill. The proposal passed by a 4-3 vote.
The committee thanks all UCG members who have volunteered and supported our efforts.
Jessica Elkins, Co-Chair of Racial Justice Committee