On December 2, the Committee for Racial Justice will celebrate over 7 years of concerted activity on behalf of racial justice, which began in response to a racial incident at Santa Monica High School. The celebration, which will include music and spoken word, will be held in Virginia Avenue Park, Thelma Terry Building, 2200 Virginia Avenue Park Santa Monica, CA 90404, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Potluck dinner will start at 6 pm.
This event commemorates the resilience that brought us through attacks from white supremacists who sought to shut down our monthly workshops and stifle our anti-racist movement. And it recognizes the persistence and resolve that have led us through over seven years of monthly community workshops for education, inspiration, training, and advocacy.
We will hear words of encouragement and inspiration from Pastor Stephen “Cue” Jn-Marie to strengthen our determination to keep rising. Cue is the pastor of “The Row La—” the Church without walls in downtown Los Angeles’s Skid Row community. Pastor Cue is also a faith rooted organizer with Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) and co-lead organizer of the Black - Jewish Justice Alliance. (BJJA). He also leads the “We Will Live Coalition--A Black n Brown Clergy and Community Coalition.” Cue’s work includes helping to address unjust public policies in the Los Angeles area. For the past eleven years Cue has advocated for the rights of homeless people, immigrants, Muslims, and other groups in need of progressive support. Cue is a strong advocate for police accountability and for the dismantling of mass incarceration.
Music will be led by members of Urban Voices, a choir in skid row; Louise Dobbs, minister of music at Church in Ocean Park; and Dr. Kim Harris, visiting professor at LMU.
The Committee for Racial Justice’s Celebration of Resilience is sponsored by the Committee for Racial Justice.
Co-sponsored by Church in Ocean Park, Virginia Ave Park, and the African American Parent, Student, Staff Support Group.
Potluck supper at 6 p.m. and program starts at 6:30 p.m. Virginia Avenue Park, Thelma Terry Bldg. 2200 Virginia Ave. Child care provided. For more information, call Joanne at (310) 422-5431.
Submitted by Joanne Berlin
