• Contact Us
  • Events calendar
Entering Swellesley
Pinnacle, Douglas Elliman, Wellesley

The Swellesley Report

More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

  • Advertise
  • Contribute
  • Subscribe
  • Eat
  • Wellesley Square
  • School news
  • Private schools, sponsored by Riverbend
  • Public Schools, sponsored by Sexton
  • Camp
  • Kids—swim tryouts Oct. 1
  • Top 10 things to do
  • Business news
  • Embracing diversity
  • Letters to the editor
  • Guidelines for letters to the editor
  • Fire & police scanner
  • Worship
  • Live gov’t meetings
  • Events
  • About us
  • Wellesley snow plowing services
 
Needham Bank, Wellesley
Write Ahead, Wellesley

Interfaith demonstration at Wellesley Village Church calls for “justice and joy” for all people

June 8, 2020 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The grounds of the historic Wellesley Village Church (WVC) at 2 Central St. served as gathering place for a witness on Sunday, at which hundreds of demonstrators came together in solidarity. Representatives from multiple places of worship joined to share the sacred space along with WVC parishioners and clergy, residents, Wellesley police, and more.

The purpose of the interfaith and multi-congregational witness as stated by church leadership was to “unite in the conviction that black lives matter, that police brutality and racial injustice must end, and that we are called to pray and work for justice and joy for all people.”

Hundreds of participants held signs, prayed, and simply lent their physical or spiritual presence to a the cause. There wasn’t a prayer of social distancing for most attendees, but those who wished to keep six feet apart hung back along the edges and across the street.

Wellesley Village Church, BLM demonstration
Demonstrators gather at Wellesley Village Church (WVC) at 2 Central St.

There was music. There’s always music at Wellesley Village Church. The church bells rang; a trio including saxophonist Gregory Groover Jr.; Max Ridley on bass; and Tyson Jackson on drums played a jazz selection; and the windows and doors of the church were thrown open so that the sounds of WVC’s organist David Carrier could be heard.

Partners who attended the demonstration were the Congregational Church of Weston; Charles St. AME; St. Andrews Church; Wellesley Hills Congregational Church; Temple Beth Elohim; Dover UCC; Wellesley UU; St. John/St. Paul Roman Catholic Community; Wellesley Police Department; and Pilgrim Church in Sherborn; World of Wellesley.

 

Wellesley Village Church, BLM demonstration
WVC member Gary Arthur spoke of the need for justice and hope that the bigger story of Black people in America will be told “from the end of slavery to why we are all here today. This story is bigger than me and you. It tells the tale of hatred, mental abuse, violence, spite, disregard, segregation, rape, unemployment, incarceration, and so many more horrid things. I pray it is the story which will give you the breath to utter three words: “Black Lives Matter”. (See Arthur’s speech in its entirety, below.)

Wellesley Village Church, BLM demonstration

Wellesley Village Church, BLM demonstration

Wellesley Village Church, BLM demonstration

Wellesley Village Church, BLM demonstration

Wellesley Village Church, BLM demonstration

Wellesley Village Church, BML demonstration
Wellesley Police Chief calls for an end to immoral and criminal police actions, as Rev. Sarah Butter of Wellesley Village Church looks on.

MORE:

Wellesley protests against white supremacy, police violence

Wellesley police chief issues statement of “disgusting behavior” of officers involved in George Floyd case

Wellesley unites against injustice

See Gary Arthur’s speech in its entirety, including a drone video recording courtesy of Michael Tobin:

As I attempted to pen some notes last night, I pondered sharing my personal experience. I suffered the fact that my story as full of agony as it is, will not place your hearts where they should be right now. As our nation suffers, knowing the story of a few is far too limiting.

Out of the sky came an interruption. As the heavy rain fell on my widow, the message was to say it louder, than I have ever said it before. Help people listen, help people hear. I believe it to be from God, you will believe what you will.

There is an old Chinese saying which suggests “Hail in June means there is injustice in the streets”. My Chinese speech is terrible, but it goes, “Lok yue fay seung” which translates “The sixth month flying snow”. The thought is best conveyed in a book “The secret of the golden flower” A Chinese book of life. A gentleman named “Richard Wilhelm” is associated with the translation.

Hail in June means there is injustice in the streets is the colloquial wisdom of the saying. Originating from an ancient play, the story tells of a woman wrongfully being punished and the Gods sending snow out of season as proof of her innocence. Last night we had hail here in Wellesley and as far as my social network could take me, we had injustice in the streets.

This all encouraged me to share the bigger story, the louder story. The story of Black People in America from the end of slavery to why we are all here today. This story is bigger than me and you. It tells the tale of hatred, mental abuse, violence, spite, disregard, segregation, rape, unemployment, incarceration, and so many more horrid things. I pray it is the story which will give you the breath to utter three words. “BLACK LIVES MATTER”.

Yes, all lives matter. However, the bias towards the endless dehumanization of Black people is what got us to come out today, simply to say, “BLACK LIVES MATTER”

Pause ………..

So, no good lesson comes without homework: Please go home and watch the documentary “Thirteenth”. If you have seen it before, watch it again please and really, really, listen. Gather your family and encourage them regardless of age to watch it. If it is too brutal for their eyes well. Lesson one, that is what Black Children see from the moment they open their eyes. And, they continue to see it EVERY time they open their eyes. I do not know what to tell you! Your call on how you raise your children.

Juneteenth is around the corner, Friday June 19th . Again, if you do not know, look it up. It is one of the false starts towards freedom of Black people in America. That is when your homework is due, watch the documentary, try to understand the mixed emotions associated with the celebration of Juneteenth, and search out ways to speak YOUR truth. You must each hold yourselves individually accountable for what happens next. Here is a couple of ideas!

One of the things we say in the feeding people business is “The fish stinks from the head”. The solution is to cut off the head, so it does not contaminate the rest of the fish. Metaphorically speaking of course. VOTE and help others register to vote. Vote very chance you get both for the candidates and the issues you believe will get us a more just nation for all.

If you cannot be the Change, “Fund the Change”, support the many organizations doing good work. Vette them of course but “Fund Them”. May I leave you with a poem?

A Garden Among the Flames … by an Arabic son. “IBN ARABI”
What wonder is this, a garden among the flames
My heart takes on every form,
a pasture for gazelles, a cloister for monks, the idols’ temple
A . Ka’ba for the circling pilgrim,
The Torah’s tables, and the Qur’an’s pages
I follow the religion of love:
Whichever way this caravan turns, I turn.
This love is my religion,
This my Faith.

Thank you, and peace be unto you all, everyone, without judgement. Like the sun above us, and the air we inhale, Gods LOVE is for everyone.

Peace be unto you.

Filed Under: Churches, Embracing diversity, History, Police

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisements:

Linden Square, Wellesley
Wonderful Wellesley, Crafts

Tip us off…

Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Advertisements

Wellesley Square
Wellesley, Jesamondo
Fay School, Southborough
Sexton test prep, Wellesley
Feldman Law
Wellesley Theatre Project
Wellesley Scouts
Volvo
Prepped and Polished Boston Tutoring and Test Prep
Tutoring, Ann-Marie MacDonnell
Cheesy Street Grill
Admit Fit, Wellesley
Mature Caregivers
charles river chamber
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Subscribe to our email newsletter

Fill out simple subscription form.

Our newsletter is free, though we appreciate any financial support for our independent journalism venture.

Follow Swellesley on Google News Showcase

The Swellesley Report has been selected to be highlighted on Google News Showcase. Please follow us there.

Most Read Posts

  • Where is Swellesley? We asked 3 AI tools
  • Wellesley residents ready for Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk
  • Don't miss the Wellesley fun—Sidewalk Sale; Crafts for Kids; Car Wash fundraiser; and more
  • Wellesley government meetings during the week of Sept. 4, 2023
  • Wellesley school community tops off new Hardy Elementary building

Click on Entering Natick sign to read our Natick Report

Entering Natick road sign

Upcoming Events

Sep 7
September 7 @ 10:00 am - September 10 @ 6:00 pm

Linden Square Sidewalk Sale

Sep 10
11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Wellesley High cross country team car wash

Sep 11
9:45 am - 10:30 am

Sept. 11 observances in Wellesley

Sep 11
7:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Author visit: Caren Simpson McVicker discuses her novel, “Henderson House”

Sep 12
8:15 am - 11:00 am

Fall real estate forum

View Calendar

Recent Comments

  • Jim Roberti on At chaotic meeting, Wellesley Planning Board votes to put Sisters of Charity article on Special Town Meeting warrant
  • Bruce on A rare peek inside Hunnewell Estate in Wellesley
  • Julia on Where is Swellesley? We asked 3 AI tools
  • Steven Sims on But wait, what about pickleball?
  • Bob Brown on Karma restaurant sneak peek: We visit Burlington version of eatery coming to Wellesley

Links we like

  • Danny's Place
  • Great Runs
  • Jack Sanford: Wellesley's Major League Baseball Star
  • Tech-Tamer
  • The Wellesley Wine Press
  • Universal Hub
  • Wellesley Sports Discussion Facebook Group
Call and Haul, Wellesley
Refined Renovations, Wellesley
Deland, Gibson, Wellesley
Rick Cram, leader

© 2023 The Swellesley Report
Site by Tech-Tamer · Login