Black Lives Matter Banner Vandalized at The Unitarian Church in Westport

The Black Lives Matter banner at The Unitarian Church in Westport was ripped down during the night of August 23.

Rev. Dr. John Morehouse, Senior Minister at the Unitarian Church said, "We presume that those who took our sign feel that by removing it they repudiate its message that black lives matter just as much as any other life."

The banner was dedicated on October 9, 2016 after a series of fatal police shootings of blacks, in particular, the July shooting of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and the September shooting of unarmed Terence Crutcher
in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Speakers at the dedication included Harold Bailey, Chairperson of TEAM Westport, Rev. Cass Shaw, President and CEO of the Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport, Westport State Senator Toni Boucher, Rev. Alison Patton, Saugatuck Congregational Church in Westport, Michael Dunn representing Congressman Jim Himes, and Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe.

The purpose of the banner was just a first step to engage with members of the Unitarian congregation, local officials, interfaith clergy, and the community to affirm the need for dialogue and non-violent action towards the ending of racism in our society.

When the banner went up the church received a number of phone calls- some supportive and thankful, some questioning, and some opposed. According to David Vita, Director of Social Justice at the Unitarian Church, "It made for lively, respectful conversations not this kind of political vandalism. Nearly a year later it’s hard not to connect the destruction of the banner with a changed political climate and an emboldened rise in racism.”

The 10:00 am Sunday service on August 27 is "Heart of Racial Justice". It’s an unfortunately timely topic. Dr. Amanda Kemp will speak about
transformation and her book, Say the Wrong Thing: Stories and Strategies for Racial Justice and Authentic Community. Following the service at 11:30 Dr. Kemp is offering a workshop on "Holding Space for Transformation".

"We will replace this sign and any future sign which is vandalized and stolen,” according to Rev. Morehouse, “until such a time as all lives, black, brown, gay or marginalized matter as much as white lives do. We will not be intimidated by the forces of bigotry and hate."

He also committed to donating $100 to the NAACP whenever the banner is vandalized.