A Service Mourning the Deaths from COVID-19 and Racism

Above is a recording of “A Service of Mourning the Deaths from COVID-19 and Racism” held on Sunday, June 7, 2020 at 7 pm.  This service  names the dual diseases of COVID-19 and racism that are ravaging our country and our world. We especially mourn  the black lives that  have been lost due to both diseases.

Please visit our blog post  for ways to support the struggle against COVID-19 and racism and police brutality.

---

“First They Came . . .”

In our Service of Mourning (around the 11:18 minute mark in the video), we stated Pastor Martin Niemöller's famous quote and offered our own version, with “they” referring to COVID-19 and racism:

• First they came for the immigrants, and I did not speak out--because I was born here. 
• Then they came for the elderly, and I did not speak out--because I am not old.
• Then they came for the incarcerated and detained, and I did not speak out--because I am neither a felon nor undocumented. 
• They they came for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual, but I did not speak out--because I am straight. 
• Then they came for the meat processors, produce pickers and store employees, and I did not speak out--because I am not deemed “essential.” 
• Then they came for native tribes, and I did not speak out--because I don’t live on a reservation. 
• Then they came for Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, and I did not speak out--because I am not black. 
• Then they came for the protesters, and I did not speak out--because I’m not “Antifa.”  
• Then they came for health-care workers, and I did not speak out--because I’m not sick. 
• Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak or care for me.