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
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
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