These "historical markers" were posted on the walls of The Haven during our Interfaith Service as part of our attempt to acknowledge the history of racism and white supremacy in Charlottesville. Many thanks to Rev. Albert Connette of Olivet Presbyterian Church for researching this history and displaying it in such an artistic manner.
|
Picture credit: Michael Cheuk
To: Ms. Diantha McKeel, the Albemarle County Jail Board, and Colonel Martin Kumer, Regional Jail Superintendent
From: Members of the Charlottesville Clergy Collective Re: ACRJ Notifications to ICE As members of the Charlottesville Clergy Collective, we have followed with concern the ongoing community discussion of the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail (ACRJ) decision to continue voluntary notifications to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding release dates of detained members of our community. While we understand that the ACRJ is required to notify ICE when an undocumented person enters the facility, notifying ICE of their release is a choice, not a requirement. Having received and reviewed a copy of your July 1, 2018 “Concerned Citizen” letter justifying the continuation of this policy, we strongly encourage the Jail Board to reconsider its decision regarding the matter. Through ongoing notifications to ICE, the ACRJ Board is effectively facilitating extrajudicial incarcerations based on citizenship status, rather than on a serious criminal offense. The position that the ACRJ Board has taken in notifying ICE aboutpeople who have been cleared to be released has the potential to separate families, hinder undocumented persons from seeking legal means to remain in this country, and create an unjust and even inhumane situation that leads to additional racial profiling of vulnerable community members. Since we also understand that attempting to develop a methodology for deciding individual cases would create undue difficulty, we implore you, the ACRJ Board, to end these ICE notifications altogether. Sincerely, Rev. Phil Woodson, First United Methodist Church Rev. Isaac Collins, Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church Rabbi Rachel Schmelkin, Congregation Beth Israel Rev. Liz Hulme Adam, Tabor Presbyterian Church Gail Hyder Wiley, elder, Westminster Presbyterian Church Rev. Bill Bray, Elim Korean International Church, Charlottesville Rev. Sandra Wisco, ELCA Rev. Brittany Caine‑Conley, Congregate Charlottesville Rev. Dr. Jill Duffield, Cove Presbyterian Church Rev. Jillian Andrzejewski, Mooreland Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Eugene T. Locke, Parish Associate Westminster Presbyterian Rev. Liz Forney, First Presbyterian Church Elizabeth Shillue, Charlottesville Friends Meeting Rev. Rabia Povich, Inayati Order Rev. Deborah Lewis, Wesley Foundation at UVA Rev. Susan A. Minasian, Sojourners United Church of Christ Rev. Marilu J. Thomas, Associate Rector Christ Episcopal Church Rev. Carol Carruthers Sims, Episcopal Priest, Retired Rev. Robert Lewis, Hinton Avenue United Methodist Church Rev. Emily Rowell Brown, St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church Rev. Dr. Michael Cheuk, Charlottesville Clergy Collective Ann Marie Smith Insight Meditation Community of Charlottesville Rev. Maren Hange, Charlottesville Mennonite Church Rev. Dr. Martha Dixon Kearse, Peakland Baptist Church, Lynchburg Jim Bundy, Retired Minister, United Church of Christ Rev. Tracy Howe Wispelwey, United Church of Christ Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Emrey, Co‑Pastor, New Beginnings Christian Community Jan Rivero, United Methodist Clergy, retired Cynthia Power, Charlottesville Friends Meeting Rev. Nicholas Deere, Charlottesville, VA Rev. Brenda Brown‑Grooms, Co‑Pastor, New Beginnings Christian Community Rabbi Tom Gutherz, Congregation Beth Israel Rev. Alvin Edwards, PhD, Senior Pastor, Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church Sharon Beckman‑Brindley, Insight Meditation Community of Charlottesville Rev. Cass Bailey, Trinity Episcopal Church Sheikha Latifa Till, Sufi Ruhaniat International Rev. Don Lansky, Unity of Charlottesville Adam Slate, President, Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church, Unitarian Universalist  The Charlottesville Clergy Collective is co-sponsoring a "Families Belong Together" rally here in Charlottesville tomorrow to coincide with the other Families Belong Together events in DC and around the country to protest against the cruel and unjustified separation of children from their parents, and the detention of families along the U.S. border with Mexico and at other ports of entry into the U.S. Here's information about joining us in the rally. DATE AND TIME: Saturday June 30, 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. LOCATION: Albemarle County Office Building, 401 McIntire Road (corner of Preston and McIntire) PARKING:
WHAT TO WEAR: There was one comment on the local Facebook Event Page mentioning that people are planning to wear white for the rally. I don’t have confirmation from the organizers. HOW YOU CAN HELP: Indivisible Charlottesville is looking for volunteers to help with clean up, social media, or any other assistance as needed. Please sign up using their Google Form to let them how you can help! ******************************************** If you don't live in Charlottesville, you can check to see if there's a "Families Belong Together" rally in your community by visiting this page.  Our very own Rev. Brenda Brown-Grooms will be one of the keynote speakers at the
RED LETTER REVIVAL: A Revival of Jesus and Justice held this Friday and Saturday, April 6-7 at EC Glass Civic Auditorium, Lynchburg, VA Doors open at 5:00 pm Admission is Free, but you need to register to reserve your seat. In addition to Brenda Brown-Grooms, other speakers include Rev. William Barber, Shane Claiborne, Tony Campolo,and Lisa Sharon Harper. Please visit the Red Letter Revival-Lynchburg webpage for more information!  We, the Charlottesville Clergy Collective, a God-centered faith community of prayer, solidarity, and impact within the Charlottesville-Albemarle Region of Central Virginia, who are called to eliminate prejudice and discrimination by establishing, developing, and promoting racial unity are appalled by the criminal charges that are being brought against Donald Blakney, DeAndre Harris, and Corey Long.
As first-hand witnesses to the violent invasion of white supremacists and white nationalists during the summer of 2017, the resulting arrests, hearings, and now impending trials of these three men of color is untenable. In light of the information that has been presented in Tim Heaphy’s Independent Review of the 2017 Protest Events in Charlottesville, Virginia, the continued persecution of our city’s most vulnerable and oppressed citizens is not to be interpreted as an act of justice, but as an act of malice. As part of our continued efforts to highlight issues of racial and social justice in our community, support marginalized and historically under-served populations, and to partner with other community leaders and promote cooperation between law enforcement, city government, and the faith leadership of this region we do hereby implore Joe Platania, the Charlottesville Commonwealth's Attorney, to drop all charges related to these three men. Signed, Alvin Edwards, PhD, Senior Pastor, Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church Rev. Rabia Povich, Charlottesville Inayati Order Rev. Dr. Michael Cheuk, Peakland Baptist Church Rev. Sandra J. Wisco, Peace Lutheran Church (ELCA member) Rev. Dr. Eugene T. Locke, Parish Associate, Westminster Presbyterian Church Rev. Robert D. Lewis, Hinton Ave United Methodist Church Rev. Carol Carruthers Sims, Grace Episcopal Church Gail Hyder Wiley, Elder, Westminster Presbyterian Church Rev. Erik Walker Wikstrom, Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church Unitarian Universalist Dr. Jan Rivero, Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church Rev. David K. Garth, Parish Assoc., Westminster Presbyterian Church Allison Jackson, Chaplain Rev. Phil Woodson, First United Methodist Church Rev. Seth Wispelwey, Restoration Village Arts Rabbi Rachel Schmelkin, Congregation Beth Israel Rev. Brittany Caine-Conley, Congregate Charlottesville Pastor Brenda Brown-Grooms, New Beginnings Christian Community Sharon Beckman-Brindley, Insight Meditation Community of Charlottesville Rev. Dr. Susan A. Minasian, Sojourners United Church of Christ Rabbi Tom Gutherz, Congregation Beth Israel Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Emrey, New Beginnings Christian Community Rev. Liz Forney, First Presbyterian Church Adam Slate, President, Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church Unitarian Universalist Rev. Tracy Howe Wispelwey, National Minister, Justice and Local Church Ministries, United Church of Christ Apostle Sarah A. Kelley, Faith, Hope and Love International Healing and Deliverance Center Rev. Diana Brawley, Parish Associate, Westminster Presbyterian Church Maren Hange, Charlottesville Mennonite Church Cynthia Power, Charlottesville Friends Meeting Elizabeth Shillue, Beloved Community Cville & Friends Meeting Rev. Dr. Jeanita Richardson, Congregate Charlottesville Rev. Alvin J. Horton, First United Methodist Church Latifa Till, Sheikha, Sufi Ruhaniat International 
Note: this is part of a series of profiles of Charlottesville Clergy Collective members.
The Rev. Jan Rivero is pastor of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Charlottesville. She is the force behind the Charlottesville to Jamestown (Cville2Jtown.com) Pilgrimage scheduled for October 6 to 20, 2018. She speaks to Michael Cheuk about how the Cville2Jtown pilgrimage vision was birthed, what it is about, and how people can join and participate. 
Note: This is the first of a series of profiles of the members of the Charlottesville Clergy Collective.
The Rev. Brenda Brown-Grooms is Co-Pastor of New Beginnings Christian Community in Charlottesville. She speaks to Michael Cheuk about the importance of community, hard conversations, and paying attention to the people around us. She will be one of the keynote speakers (together with Tony Campolo and Lisa Sharon Harper) at the Red Letter Christian Revival, on April 6-7 at E.C. Glass High School in Lynchburg, VA. We, the Charlottesville Clergy Collective, as first-hand witnesses to the violence of white supremacy and white nationalism during the summer of 2017, where white men with semi-automatic weapons marched through the streets of Charlottesville in an act of domestic terrorism, denounce the horrific murders of the 17 students and teachers of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. As a community of faith leaders who are committed to standing as witnesses for love, justice, and unity - we continue to pray for the victims, their friends and families, and an end to this senseless violence.
While we firmly believe in the power of prayer, we recognize that our varied faith traditions also compel us to act upon our beliefs and we acknowledge that we too have a part to play in making those prayers a reality. Therefore, we do hereby commit ourselves to the following actions.We will advocate at the local and national level for laws that prevent or reduce gun violence. This includes promoting universal background checks on all gun purchases, ensuring all guns are sold through licensed gun retailers, working to repeal the Dickey Amendment, and advocating against laws that seek to increase the presence of guns in society, especially in public places such as schools and churches.
Signed: Rev. Dr. Alvin Edwards, Mt. Zion First African Baptist Rev. Rabia Povich, Charlottesville Inayati Order Rev. Dr. Michael Cheuk, Peakland Baptist, Lynchburg Rev. Dr. Susan A. Minasian, Sojourners United Church of Christ Apostle Sarah A. Kelley, Faith, Hope and Love International Healing and Deliverance Center, Inc. Rev. Phil Woodson, First United Methodist Church Rev. Joshua T. Andrzejewski, Chaplain, VCU Health Pastor Brenda Brown-Grooms, New Beginnings Christian Community Rev. Sandy Wisco, Retired Lutheran Pastor in ELCA Rev. Dr. David K. Garth, Westminster Presbyterian Church Rev. Robert Lewis, Hinton Avenue United Methodist Church Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Emrey, New Beginnings Christian Community Jeanita Richardson, Congregate Charlottesville Dr. Jan Rivero, Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church Adam Slate, President, Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church - Unitarian Universalist Rev. Lynne T. Clements, Associate Pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church Pastor Cass Bailey, Trinity Episcopal Church Susan Beers, Presiding Clerk, Charlottesville Friends Meeting Rev. Carol Carruthers Sims, Grace Episcopal Church Rev. Byung Y. Ju, Korean Community Church in Charlottesville Rev. Colleen Swingle-Titus, Pastor, Park Street Christian Church Rabbi Rachel Schmelkin, Congregation Beth Israel Rev. Dr. Eugene T. Locke, Parish Associate, Westminster Presbyterian Church Rabbi Tom Gutherz, Congregation Beth Israel Rev. Dr. Jim Bundy. Retired - United Church of Christ Rev. Karen Lewis Foley, Retired - Unitarian Universalist Rev. Seth Wispelwey, Restoration Village Arts Pastor Daniel Xisto, Charlotteville Seventh-day Adventist Church Rev. Winn Collier, All Souls Charlottesville Cynthia Power, Charlottesville Friends Meeting Rev. Maren Hange, Charlottesville Mennonite Church Sharon Beckman-Brindley, Senior Teacher, Insight Meditation Community of Charlottesville Rev. Robert Lewis, Hinton Avenue United Methodist Church |
Archives
August 2018
CategoriesSubscribe to our Email List |
RSS Feed