“[July 4th] reveals to [the Black person], more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants, brass-fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy-a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages.”
The words of Frederick Douglass demand that we consider the Black American experiences in this country. And he was right. He advocated for full civil rights for ALL people who lived in this country. May we work together so that someday very soon America will be America for every person who lives here, regardless of race or the color of their skin.
May we dedicate ourselves to realizing a universal application of our Founders’ words so that the inherent worth and dignity of all human beings can be actualized and will be valued. When this happens America will truly be the beacon of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all.
Rabbi Amy Wallk Katz, on behalf of the Interfaith Council of Greater Springfield (first appeared on Masslive on July 3, 2020):
Cosigners:
Office of Spiritual Life, Springfield College
Katherine Dugan, Assistant Professor of Religion, Springfield College
The Rev. Linda Taupier
Bishop Douglas Fisher, Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts
Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield
Jane Morrissey, ssj
Rev. Barbara Schenk, pastor, Foster Memorial Church, United Church of Christ
Forest Park Zen Sangha
The Rev. Dr. Daphne Burt
Rev. Ute Schmidt, Spiritual Services Baystate Medical Center
Sisters of St. Joseph, Springfield,MA
Rev. Marisa Brown Ludwig, United Church of Christ
Deacon Bill Toller Holy Cross JustFaith
Winding Path Tendai Buddhist Sangha
Rev. Lauren Holm, Bethesda Lutheran and East Congregational Churches
Rev. Jason Seymour, Unitarian Universalist Society of Greater Springfield
Rabbi Jeremy Master, Sinai Temple
Rev Dr Robert Loesch, Hampden Association, United Church of Christ
National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ)
Mary Ferguson ssj
M.Saleem Bajwa,MD for Islamic Society of Western Mass
South Congregational Church, UCC
Annette McDermott, ssj
Rev. Susan Grant Rosen
Rev. Paul B. Nesbit
Rev. Chris Mereschuk
The Rev. J. Peter Swarr, Rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, East Longmeadow
Dr. Martin J. Pion
Rev. Julie-Ann Silberman-Bunn
Rev. Rene A. Perez
Susan Kennedy
