Last week I had the great pleasure to run into Congressman John Lewis ( D-GA 5th) at Atlanta Hartsfield Airport. I chatted with him for just a few minutes and thanked him for his comments on CNN regarding Black History month, and the recent opening of the The International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro, N.C.
It was February 1st, 50 years ago to the day that the four young men sat down at the segregated F.W. Woolworth lunch counter.
Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair Jr., David Richmond and Joseph McNeil took a seat at the segregated facility and politely, but steadfastly, refused to leave. Eventually joined by others, they returned day after day to stage a sit-in that would continue until late July, when at last, the eating area was de-segregated. Their protest sparked similar sit-ins throughout the South, enlivening the civil rights movement.
The congressman was on his way back to DC, and while I could have chatted him up for hours! I thanked him again and we parted. However, it really got me thinking about the all too many times he put his body on the line for something he believed in, and when was the last time I saw others make that commitment?
Well, as it turns out, I didn’t have to look far.
For 7 years Georgia Wand Stands for Peace every friday on the corner of 14th and Peachtree from 12-1 pm. As they say “We will continue to stand every Friday until the war ends in Iraq and the troops are sent home from Afghanistan”.
More about the ongoing action here.
Later that week one of my favorite daily read blogs, Joe.My.God posted a great video from a group of students staged a sit in during a recent John Carroll University basketball game.
The group Singing for our Lives posted the video and says the following about why they took this action.
In light of the recent decision by the John Carroll University administration to not specifically include the protection of Lesbians, Gays, Bi-Sexuals, Transgendered, and Questioning students in its Anti-Discrimination Statement, we, the students, faculty, and alumni of John Carroll University choose to voice our support for those the university leaves without protection.
John Carroll’s mission is to create people for others. That means support, protection, love, and understanding for all people without regard to color, creed, sexual preference, gender, age, or other personal factors. That’s the goal of a Jesuit institution.
By not explicitly voicing its support of LGBTQ students, faculty, and alumni, John Carroll’s administration is breaking those unspoken bonds of trust that make JCU a community.
It’s time for those who have called Carroll home in some capacity to speak up and demand of the President, Board of Directors, and Administration the words that promise safety and security to those whose rights are so tenuous and often unprotected.
In short, we expect better of John Carroll University. We demand better. We are a gentle, angry people and we are singing, singing for our lives!!!
I watched all 9 +mins of the video, and was really disappointed to see it appeared no other students joined them, and the players just kept warming up. Sad.
Huh, I’ve never met a protest that I didn’t want to be part of! Certainly one that I didn’t have to organize and came ready made to my gym!
So it’s fair to ask, “what are YOU doing Ms. J…”
As it so happens this Valentines Day at 2:14 pm on the dot I will be joining the Cobb PFLAG chapter to “stand” in a heart shaped show of solidarity for the rights of LBGTQQ citizens.
It’s no Edmund Petus bridge, but if you’d like to join us…
At 2:14 PM on 2/14, there will be an OUTright Love-In held at East Cobb Park. The purpose of this love-in is to support love of all kinds, with emphasis on marriage and adoption rights for LGBT couples.
Where: East Cobb Park
Address: 3322 Roswell Rd
Marietta, GA 30062
When: 2:14 PM on 2/14/2010 (Plan to arrive a little early)
Dress: Red, pink, rainbow, whatever.
Sponsored by the Emerson Unitarian Universalist Congregation
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