A Letter from N.O.R.T.H.

Dear Editor,

Our colleague and friend, the Rev. Scott Rudolph, and his congregation, the Unitarian Universalist Church of the North Hills, located in Franklin Park Borough, has suffered a small injustice in the midst of calling to light a much larger injustice.

This church chose to purchase and display a sign on their property that stated, “Black Lives Matter.” Well, it was more than “a” sign, as they have actually had six. They have all been destroyed, vandalized or stolen. Did we mention that this church is in Franklin Park, a community we would expect views itself as educated, professional and enlightened?

There are those who bristle at the “Black Lives Matter” declaration, substituting, instead, “all” for “black.” Of course all lives matter. That would be like saying “All water is wet” or “All snow is cold.” A specific injustice is being addressed by the phrase, “Black Lives Matter.”

Black lives have been snuffed out by overzealous law enforcement persons in some communities across this country. Black lives have died suspicious deaths in prison cells where they were being held on minor charges. Black lives have been taken by gun-wielding citizens who “felt threatened” by persons of color in their neighborhoods. Black lives are disproportionately pulled over in vehicles or are detained and searched without cause, other than the color of their skin.

So this congregation chose to do something very American--speak out, asserting publicly that “Black Lives Matter,” a value that Rev. Rudolph and his people believe passionately, as do we, the undersigned. Shedding light on these injustices against “Black Lives” inherently affirms, celebrates, and seeks to protect all lives.

There can be no other explanation for the suppression of speech and this vandalism that the Unitarian Universalist Church of the North Hills has experienced other than the specter of racism that still survives--even in these very affluent North Hills communities--despite extensive efforts by society to put it to rest.

Some might say, “Oh, it’s probably just a bunch of kids vandalizing these signs.” If so, they are “kids” performing racist and oppressive acts, raising suspicion as to the values modeled for them by parents, peers, and other influential adults.

We, the undersigned members of N.O.R.T.H. (Neighboring Organizations Responding Together for Hope) affirm the efforts of Rev. Rudolph’s congregation to elevate the message, “Black Lives Matter,” and in doing so, encourage conversation about the racism in our midst.

Rev. Dr. Ronald R. Hoellein, NORTH Chairperson

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

Rev. Dr. Jeffrey D. Sterling

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

Faith Geer

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

Rev. Scott Rudolph

Unitarian Universalist Church of the North Hills

Fr. D. Scott Russell, Rector

St. Brendan’s Episcopal Church

Rev. Cynthia Jackson and Rev. Jared Jackson

Carol Rosenberger

Pittsburgh North People for Peace

Theresa Orlando

North Hills Anti-Racism Coalition

Mary Sheehan, Pittsburgh North People for Peace

Ash Marwah, Indian Cultural Association of Pittsburgh

Asim Kokan, Muslim Association of Greater Pittsburgh

#opinion #article