Baltimore Faith Leaders Call for Justice, Peace and Prayer
As leaders of diverse faith communities throughout the Baltimore, we condemn unequivocally the tragic death of George Floyd, along with every unjust killing of an unarmed black man or woman at the hands of those entrusted with protecting us. Every loss of life through an act of violence tears apart our bonds as a human family, and strikes at the heart of the foundational principles that define who we are as communities of faith, and as a City, state, and nation.
We applaud and stand with all who are raising their voices in protest against this latest injustice, and the entrenched, systemic racism in our society that it reflects. We most especially applaud all those on our streets and in our communities who are refusing to join individuals – often not from our own communities – who would cause the safety of our people, neighborhoods and institutions to be torn asunder by reckless violence.
We owe our gratitude as well to the women and men in law enforcement who abide by their duty to carry out their responsibilities with compassion and justice, and who continue to risk their own lives to keep us safe.
We ask all to join us Wednesday, June 3 at 6:00 pm at an outdoor gathering at St. Vincent de Paul Church to demonstrate our commitment to justice, to healing and to peace, and to pray together for the safety and renewal of our City.
Let us take comfort in our shared dependence on the love and grace of God, and in the truths that will never fail us. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals.”
