The police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade, and the lynching of Ahmaud Arbery are only some examples of the deep systemic and institutional racism that has pervaded the police forces and legal system of this country for hundreds of years.
Their murders caused some of us to see the breadth and depth of this legacy for the first time. Some of us believed we understood it but were asked to reckon with the ways we have been complicit in and complacent about white supremacy despite our best intentions.
This reckoning means understanding that the police brutality, anti-Black racism, and white supremacy we’re seeing amplified on a national scale through public outcry often goes unremarked upon in our own community. Educating ourselves about systemic racism and police misconduct in Newton is an important first step to doing right by this community where we reside and worship, but that does not on its own lead to systemic change. Concrete action and accountability are required before our social realities can start to match up with our ideals and values.
At Eliot Church, we are committed to ongoing education and action so that we can be part of the solution. Below you will find curated resources to help you on your own journey to becoming an anti-racist:
