Orange Ribbon

As of today there is a new Orange Ribbon on the Peace Pole at the Spiritual Life Center. An orange ribbon is a sign of awareness of racial tolerance and cultural diversity associated with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, March21st. The UN chose the March date to commemorate the massacre in Sharpeville South Africa which occurred in 1960. March 21st is Human Rights Day in South Africa. I wish we had a Human Rights Day in this country.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, expressions of xenophobia and anti-Asian sentiment, harassment, and violence against Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander persons, families, and communities have increased. As the nation mourns the recent unjust deaths, the University of Lynchburg’s students, staff, faculty, and administration stand in solidarity with our Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities and condemn racism and expressions of hate, bias, and discrimination in all forms. –President Morrison-Shetlar

And I believe with every fiber on my being, there are simply some core values and beliefs that should bring us together as Americans. One of them is standing together against hate, against racism, the ugly poison that has long haunted and plagued our nation. –President Joseph Biden

We denounce racist language against Black and brown communities, and we must insist that anti-Asian violence be called out and addressed as part of the systemic injustices laid bare in this time of global pandemic. –Disciples Leaders, Rev. Teresa “Terri” Hord Owens, General Minister and President, Rev. Yvonne Gilmore, Interim Administrative Secretary, National Convocation, Rev. Lori Tapia, National Pastor, Central Pastoral Office of Hispanic Ministries, Rev. Chung Seong Kim, Executive Pastor, North American Pacific/Asian Disciples

White supremacy is a lie teller, and a life taker… Their deaths say that all of us must come together. Their deaths say that we can’t let racism or white supremacy have the last say. –Rev. Dr. William J. Barber

Many voices have been raised against violence and racial injustice, and yet so much more needs to be done. My voice matters, but so does each of your voices. Not all statements will make the newspaper or the evening news, nor will they be retweeted millions of times, but every statement matters. Every action that any of us takes against hate and injustice matters. It is the end of March and without a formal spring break this semester, we know that the push to the end of the semester will be difficult, but please use some of your energy to make our world a better place in any of the infinite ways that can happen. My small gesture for the day is to put an orange ribbon on the Peace Pole; when you see it, please pause for a moment to reject racial injustice and violence and hold peace in your heart.

It may take me a lifetime to unlearn all of the cultural messages, religious traditions, linguistic idioms, and tendencies to micro-aggressions that make up who I am. I will apologize when I slip, I will call out racism when I see it, I will preach love and grace and justice. I will ask my community to journey with me.  Racial violence has to end. –Stephanie McLemore

Peace Be Upon You and Yours, Stephanie