ERACISM Minute 6/7/2020 Henry Ohana

"Today I want to talk about why we have an eracism minute every week.  Some people are under the impression that we want all of the white folks out there to feel bad.  Some have asked why they aren’t more positive.   Some feel talking about race makes it more divisive.  Some have wondered why we don’t talk about other issues or types of oppressions.  I hope this will help.

First off, it is never our goal to make you feel bad.  We may want you to feel uncomfortable because talking about race is uncomfortable.  But the only way we can become more aware is to be uncomfortable and learn. 

There are many kinds of oppressions – sexism, classism, heterosexism, religious bigotry, etc.  What is unique about racism is the ‘institutionality’ and visibility of it.  The entire structure of society - from economic justice to police justice and mass incarceration to health justice - are stacked against black people and there is no way for them to hide who they are.   Race is the first thing people see.

We will need to flesh out all the ways black people have been specifically targeted from accumulating wealth and have been prevented from having access to “The American Dream”.  We will need to analyze the dynamics at play that adversely impact the health of black people.  We will need to talk about why we have such an enormous prison population and why is disproportionately people of color.

But I think we need to start with the most basic aspect of all: the constant risk black people face for their safety.  For all you white people: do you ever worry that you might get pulled over for a broken tail light and end up dead?  Do you ever worry if you pull out a cell phone a police officer might think it’s a gun and Shoot you?  Do you ever think that sometime in the middle of the night the police will barge into your apartment and kill you?  I know I don’t.

I think at least ½ of the room can understand and relate to this fear.  Women.  I’m sure there has been some point in each of your lives where you have been alone, at night, in an area that feels deserted or otherwise unsafe.  What do you do?  What do you think about?  You stand straight and walk briskly – maybe holding your keys between your fingers in case of attack and keep your ears and eyes peeled.  And the whole time you are terrified.  Terrified!  Imagine feeling this every day for your whole life!  Think about what a toll that would take on your psyche.

I know every person in here has a good heart and wants the best for everybody.  That’s why we invite you to the struggle.  We don’t want to call you out – we want to call you in.  Because just as women had to convince enough men to give them the vote – they could not do it for themselves, likewise white people have to be the ones to deconstruct racism, black people cannot do it.  So please, welcome the discomfort  - lean into it and use it as an opportunity to learn.   We are all in the same boat and it is a life long journey.  And unless white people talk about it regularly, it won‘t change.

Step 1 – learn, Step 2 – act.

In that vein, you are all invited to the black lives matter meeting tomorrow at 7:00"

Eracism Minute 6/14/2020 Lauralee Carbone

Prayer of the day

We honor the revolutionaries and martyrs who have gone before us — all those who struggled for the sake of this new world. We praise you, and the God who formed and led you. In gratitude, we stand on your sacrifices and victories. We invite your presence into our lives, asking for your wisdom, strength, and accompaniment as we join your struggle. Be with us as we continue contending for God’s kin-dom. Amen.

- Friendly Fire Collective

Meeting Minutes 6/8/2020

Black Lives Matter Ministry Action Team

June 8, 2020

The program meeting convened at 7 pm on Zoom. The zoom invitation gave the meeting time as 6:30, so some people signed on early. Cat will communicate with BUF Administrator to make sure the time is correct (6 pm for business meeting the first Monday, 7 pm for program meeting on second Monday. Also, publish the link in the midweek update.

Present were Barbara Gilday, Kathryn Allen, Judy Kasper, Paul Beckel, David Curley, Henry Ohana, Rick and Nancy Steele, Michael Betz, Amoret Heise, Jane Ronca-Washburn, Mary Alden, Lauralee Carbone, Claire Lending, Murray Bennett, Genia Allen, Jane DeBrock and Cat McIntyre

First we had check in to introduce ourselves to new people, each describing how they're feeling and what they've been up to. Then we went around with each telling what anti-racism action they expect to be accomplishing immediately. 

1.    Put the Black Lives Matter banner up outside BUF.

2.    Read the list of black-owned businesses in the Bellingham Herald, and patronize those businesses. Also, be aware of businesses that are funding Law & Oder President and cut off spending there (Home Depot, McDonalds, etc.)

3.    Write letters to Whatcom County Executive, Satpal Sidhu to reallocate funding for police and sheriff for community, especially Generations Forward Family Council (see below, at end of minutes).

4.    Create a phone/text tree to notify those interested in actions like the rally on 6/6/20. Henry Ohana and Genia Allen will work on this. Cat will transmit the names to them. We also need a script for such phone calls, with information solicited from those who are contacted by black-led groups for action; this will make sure we have their direction for what is needed and when.  We have current connections to the Whatcom Human Rights Task Force (DavidCurley), Black Lives Matter-Bellingham (Cat) and Racial Justice Coalition (Cat and others).

5.    Educate ourselves about racism and antiracist history and current actions. Read books, watch films, listen to black leaders. Consider organizing resources and posting them in easily-accessed spots on BUF website, and/or BUF Black Lives Matter blog.

David Curley offered a powerpoint describing the Rapid Response Team plan developed in 2019 by the three Beloved Conversations study groups. He offered  to share the powerpoint upon request : dcurley1945@gmail.com We discussed a need for training in what to do and what not to do when demonstrating. 

One suggestion was to practice one-on-one how to de-escalate confrontations with those who are doing racist actions. We suggested using local experts (Training could be arranged with Whatcom Peace and Justice or Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center. Rev. Paul can split the zoom meeting into breakout rooms so we can practice confrontations one on one.

Our next business meeting will be Monday, July 6 at 6 pm. Our next program meeting will be Monday, July 13 at 7 pm.   If we can arrange training with one of the local experts, will conduct that at the July 13 meeting; if not, we will watch the documentary, The Bail Trap. Announcements and zoom links will appear in the BUF Midweek Update and sent out by email to those participating in this meeting,.

Respectfully submitted

Cat McIntyre, co-facilitator

Information about Generations Forward Family Council reported by Mary Alden at 6/8/20 BUF Black Lives Matter program meeting.For further information, contact Hilde Festerling. land line 360 312-0396 or  cll 360 594-8612. Her email is in the email copied below.

Begin forwarded message:

From:Hilde Festerling <hildebootstrap@gmail.com>

Date:June 8, 2020 at 6:35:26 PM PDT

To:Mary Alden <mary@sunrisechapel.org>

Hello to my friends at Black Lives matter BUF!

I have been working with a group called the Generations Forward Family council for the last 18 months. We have helped draft and pass in principle through County Council a plan called the Whatcom County Child and Family Action Plan. This plan was developed with grassroots community oversight and with input from the visionary work of black community leaders. The plan is a blueprint for stopping root causes of childhood trauma and closing equity gaps based on race in the county The county council are writing their budget this month and we are asking community groups for their support and collaboration in asking County Executive Sidhu to Fund the Plan, Not the Police. I've included some of our draft materials, and we welcome your collaboration!

Sample letter to County Executive Sidhu

County Executive Sidhu

We call on you to invest in families and communities, not policing and jails.

This Whatcom County Sheriff’s office has overseen rising incarceration rates and rising jail-time stays. It disproportionately targets, arrests, and incarcerates black, Native American, and Latinx people. These practices are traumatic and destructive to individuals, families and communities, and perpetuate systemic racism and inequity in our county.

The county must stop investing in practices which harm the community and perpetuate systemic injustice. We must invest instead in families, communities, and measures to close equity gaps in our county. The Whatcom County Child & Family Action Plan, which was passed in February of 2004, calls for those investments. While the Child & Family Action Plan offers a clear path forward to support Whatcom children and families, it has not yet received financial backing.

This moment, in which our local crises of poverty, racism, and homelessness are compounded by a pandemic, in which we are all reeling from images of police violence, and in which we are experiencing a national uprising against police brutality, this is the moment to make clear and appropriate financial commitments. The answer is clear: redirect funds away from law enforcement and jails, toward community.

Signed

Meeting Minutes 6/1/2020

Black Lives Matter Ministry Action Team

June 1, 2020

The meeting convened at 6 pm on Zoom. Present were Amoret Heise, David Curley, Mary Alden, Cat McIntyre, Lauralee Carbone, Margie Williams, Linda Clarke, Carol Dukes, Virginia Hays, Murray Bennett, Claire Lending, Judy Kasper, Henry Ohana,  Lisa Heezen, Tessie Mandeville, Jan Krouskop, Elizabeth Skinner, Marty Villa=Lovoz, and Genia Allen

Agenda:

1.    Check in, especially for new members

2.    Eracism minutes

3.    June 8 program

1.  Check in.  Many people visited  our zoom team meeting for the first time. Some just want to see what we do. All expressed anger, fear and sadness over recent murder of black men, civil discord and wondering what's next. 

2. Eracism minutes.  Lauralee described the origin and purpose of eracism minutes. We aim to educate, and aren't surprised when we get push-back. Our work is not comfortable, but we believe it is necessary if change is going to come to our congregation and our society.

·     June 7             Henry Ohana            

·     June 14          Lauralee Carbone

·     June 21          Elizabeth Skinner      

·     June 28          David Curley

Services are now broadcast via Zoom. Everyone giving an Eracism minute should be sure to contact Rev. Paul by Wednesday before the service to introduce themself, discuss the focus of the service and learn whether they should attend a rehearsal.

2. June 8 program. We discussed videos and resources for effective action to combat white supremacy and structural racism. Cat suggested Robin DiAngelo's work and website (robindiangelo.com); Lauralee put the Antiracist Checklist for Whites onto the chat; Cat will send it out with the invitation to the next program meeting. Henry gave a phone number to connect to various judicial offices to protest. Mary Alden encouraged people to become active in political groups to influence change through the coming election.

We agreed to each do some homework:find one thing that will make a difference that you want to do, and bring it to the program meeting to share.

Next meeting: June 8, 2020, 7 pm

Respectfully submitted

Cat McIntyre, co-facilitato