From: David C. Bosley, Mike Harris, Charles A. Sims, Johnnie Edwards, Frank Griffin, and Fred King
Columbus
America is at a social justice tipping point. The violence, hate and exclusionary terms of many are once again in the news because they sense the walls closing in on them. The sad graffiti and markings found in downtown Columbus from the Patriot Front are not welcome here, nor are the things this organization represents welcomed.
We stand against the graffiti on the Cummins building and that found on First Presbyterian Church. This defacing is not acceptable. We stand with our friends at Cummins and support our brothers and sisters at First Presbyterian.
In June of 2020, we poured onto the steps of Columbus City Hall with hundreds of supporters to say Black Lives Matter. We and several others demonstrated that we stand against Asian violence in the rally just weeks ago.
We were there in a show of unity. We were there in a visual statement of the lives that we are for.
We are against the white supremacist at every turn. Their ideas don’t fit here. Their desires to deface the property of others doesn’t wash here. And as the mayor shared, their efforts are antithetical to the designs of the good people here.
The big deal is that from where we operate in Columbus, this is a place of love. We firmly believe, as Dr. King shared, love is the highest ideal.
We believe that because the walls are closing in on hate, that there will be a ground swell. The pastor’s alliance is looking forward to a shift after that ground swell.
Until then, we are firmly settled against the hate wherever posted, streamed, or demonstrated. Until that shift is mandated we all are positioned in the crucible of God’s abundant care and provision in these United States.
