On Saturday the 20th June hundreds of campaigners gathered in two Suffolk towns to hold peaceful Black Lives Matter protests.
Protesters assembled in Felixstowe and Woodbridge to share their support for the global campaign.
The Felixstowe event was held in the Spa Gardens and I attended along with other Members of the Local Methodist Church. It was a most respectful and inspiring meeting, which kept to social distancing guidelines with most people present also wearing face masks.
In Felixstowe we knelt for 8 minutes 46 seconds in memory of George Floyd who died after being restrained by a Police Officer in the USA. The time was significant as it represented the length of time Police Officer Derek Chauvin spent kneeling on Mr Floyd’s neck.
We heard from a host of speakers all of whom had experienced racial discrimination in their lives. These stories where both moving and challenging.
The march then headed along the prom to a final position at the Martello Park area.
It was very well organized and proved to be a fine example of non-violent protest.
My prayer would be that all voices of oppressed and marginalised people would be heard.
That we might rejoice in diversity and ever seek to have our lives enriched by the stories of others.
That as Christians, we might challenge injustice wherever we see it.
We continue to pray for the family of George Floyd and any who experience discrimination.
We pray for the perpetrators of all crimes of hate, that they might truly see the result of their actions and earnestly seek forgiveness and reconciliation.
We pray for our individual role and the role of the Church in the ongoing issues of justice and equality we see all around us.
Amen.