Stand in Support of Black Lives Matter

Black Lives Matter Port Orchard Vigil
The Black Lives Matter vigil in Port Orchard has been occurring almost every Friday afternoon since last June, following the murder of George Floyd under the knee of a Minneapolis policeman. During the time we've been vigiling, between three and eighty people joined the vigil. Our KUUF banner was present for each vigil. Many folks who participated are KUUF members. During that time we've received lots of positive responses from those who drive by and a small number of negative responses. We've stood up, in a very public way, for the first UU Principle, The Inherent Worth and Dignity of Every Person. Black lives do, most emphatically, matter!

But we've also heard from our Black friends and colleagues that they wonder what we are hoping to accomplish in going on. They would prefer that we put our shoulders to the heavy task of dismantling White supremacy in all its forms in our community. Honoring that wish, we are disbanding our vigil and encouraging all those who vigiled to join as allies with the various race equity organizations in Kitsap County, including Kitsap Equity, Race and Community Engagement (ERACE) Coalition https://www.facebook.com/KitsapERACEcoalition/ and SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice) https://www.showingupforracialjustice.org/chapters-and-affiliates.html. We vigilists urge all KUUF members to engage with the dismantling of White supremacy and racism in our nation, communities and our own faith community. How to do this isn't always exactly clear, but it is imperative that we give our best selves to this critically important work.

As the organizer of the vigil, I sent a message to Port Orchard Chief of Police, Matt Brown, a message about this decision.

If you are unsure how to connect to a local racial justice organization, there are several KUUF members who would be happy to help you. Please email me at bethwilson1950@gmail.com and I would be pleased to help you connect.

Beth Wilson

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Black Lives in UU History

Francis Ellen Watkins Harper, Fannie Barrier Williams, and Egbert Ethelred Brown are just a few of the people we will celebrate as our Black Unitarian Universalist ancestors. Our history as a faith movement has been shaped by the work and the lives of countless Black leaders. In this slideshow we will share their pain, honor their legacy, and let it teach us how to live ever more fully into the beloved community.