(A press release from Louisville Showing Up for Racial Justice Faith Group and partner organizations, followed by the statement)
As news continues to break regarding the case involving the death of Breonna Taylor that was presented to a Grand Jury in Kentucky last week, the Louisville community has been besieged by law enforcement from around the nation. Faith leaders who were active in providing sanctuary for protesters throughout the last five days gathered to record a statement at noon [Tuesday] on Zoom. The brief call included statements declaring that the sanctuary efforts and strategic marches this weekend ultimately led to an end of the Mayor’s curfew.
Statement by faith leaders
Yesterday, the Mayor lifted the curfew that has been in effect since Sept 23. We have seen an incredible outpouring of support from our community throughout the curfew. Black movement leaders, faith leaders, and houses of worship came together to provide opportunities for people to express their First Amendment rights to freedom of expression and religious freedom.
These efforts succeeded in allowing our community to grieve, express outrage, march, pray, and commune with one another despite the imposition of the ill-conceived and counterproductive curfew. Extreme and militarized over-policing included surrounding peaceful sanctuaries provided by houses of worship, which are protected by the First Amendment and ostensibly were excluded from the curfew order.
Despite these attempts at intimidation and suppression by police, people from all parts of our community showed up in love and solidarity, peacefully marched, and provided food, water and drinks, medical care, counseling, prayer, music, praise, encouragement, lament, and sanctuary to one another. The sanctuary efforts and strategic marches this weekend have ended the curfew. Love prevailed and the movement for racial justice continues.
In solidarity,
Linette Lowe, UU Seminarian & Exec. Dir., Central Louisville Community Ministries
Min. Stachelle Bussey, Exec. Dir., The Hope Buss
Rev. Dwain Lee, Springdale Presbyterian Church
Rev. Ryan M. Eller, New Moral Majority & Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Min.
Rev. Lisa J. Griffith Tierney, United Church of Christ
Rev. Lauren Jones Mayfield, United Church of Christ
Andrew Kang Bartlett, Deacon, Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church, PC(USA)
Rev. Dr. Eva R. Markham, Christ Church Cathedral
Rev. Derek N. Harris, Lyndon Baptist Church
Rev. Kent H. Gilbert, Kentucky Council of Churches
Rev. Mamie Broadhurst, Presbyterian Church (USA)
Rev. Valerie J. Mayo, St. George’s Episcopal Church
The Very Rev. Matthew Bradley, Dean, Christ Church Cathedral
Rev. Laura Barclay, Highland Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Ann Deibert, Central Presbyterian Church
Kim Summers, Chaplain Emeritus, Unity of Louisville, ‘White Auntie in the Square
Rev. Dawn Cooley, Kentucky Unitarian Universalist Justice Action Network
Matthew Posten, Chaplain Intern, member of Sojourn Church New Albany
Rev. Lori Kyle, First Unitarian Church of Louisville
Rabbi Dr. Nadia Siritsky, Director of Program Development and Engagement, Interfaith Paths to Peace
The Rev. Benjamin Hart, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
The Rev. Kelly Kirby, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Valerie Mansfield, Unity of Louisville and Unity of East Louisville
Rev. Kevin Gardner-Sinclair, Broadway Baptist Church
Rev. Mary Alice Birdwhistell, Highland Baptist Church
Rev. Richard Williams, Presbyterian Church (USA)
The Rev. Lee F. Shafer, Calvary Episcopal Church
David Horvath, LSURJ Faith and Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Justice.
Rev. Rebecca Barnes, Coordinator of the Presbyterian Hunger Program
Rev. Dr. Shannon Craigo-Snell, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Rev. Cindy Geisen, St. Paul Lutheran Church
Erin Sigmund, Director of Discipleship One Church Louisville
Rev. Rachel Small Stokes, United Church of Christ
Rev. Stedney Phillips, Metropolitan Community Church Louisville
Cory Lockhart
Eileen Blanton
Rev. Jamesetta Ferguson, Lead Pastor, St. Peter United Church of Christ
Jud Hendrix, Executive Director, Interfaith Paths to Peace
Rev. Karen Barth, St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, Louisville
Rev. Ernest Romans St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ Louisville
Rev. D. Houston Hall United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. Monica Ouellette, United Church of Christ
Rev. Ann E. H. Houlette, United Church of Christ
–30–