Black Lives Matter Street Signs Installed by Unitarian Church in Alexandria South
FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA – About 25 members of Mount Vernon Unitarian Church, masked and socially distanced, joined Pastor Kate Walker Tuesday morning for the dedication of three Black Lives Matter signs—one at the drive to the church on Windmill Lane and two on Ft. Hunt Road under the directional signs to the church.
Rev. Dr. Walker said the signs are “a big public statement that we are allies to black people in the fight to end racism.”
“Our Unitarian Universalist first principle is that we believe in the inherent worth and dignity of all people, but not everyone is able to live with worth and dignity. Black, brown, and Indigenous people are marginalized and oppressed by systemic white racism,” she said. “We recognize that Black Lives Matter and we are going to act that way.”
Rev. Walker said the idea for the signs came from the congregation through the board of trustees. Other Unitarian churches in Northern Virginia have also posted signs. She said Black Lives Matter yard signs and lapel buttons will also be available to members who want to post signs at their houses or wear buttons at Zoom meetings.
The ceremony included a reading of Maya Angelou’s poem,”I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” and flute music.