Protest Organizers’ Positions Merit Hearing

Richmond Hill today declares that the seven positions voiced by multiple protest organizers merit a hearing by the region’s central jurisdictions. Sincere engagement with the organizers and their positions would represent an important path forward in our region’s long and regretful battle with racism, disparate distribution of power, and failure to demonstrate that Black lives do matter.

Since its founding in 1987, Richmond Hill has uniquely focused on the healing of metropolitan Richmond. One of the four components of this work has been a commitment to racial reconciliation. This is regularly practiced through an intentional promotion of diversity in our residential community and volunteer Council; actively holding space for community dialogue; examining issues of systemic racism through our Koinonia School of Race & Social Justice; and operating outreach initiatives to city schools (Armstrong Leadership Program and the Micah Initiative).

Given our ministry’s background, we celebrate the young people of conscience and heart who so far have led the charge for change in our region. They quickly assembled and organized a response that after more than two months can be classified as a movement.

In celebrating the tenacity and perseverance of those protestors who are taking a stand for liberty and justice for all, we lament the faction of individuals who have been destructive and dangerous in their approach. Micah 6:8 says, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

We call on our local elected officials to sit with the organizers to listen to, understand the premise of, engage in dialogue about, and give consideration to their seven positions: re-open the Marcus-David Peters case; defund the police; drop all charges against every protester; remove ALL monuments to white supremacy in this city from Confederate generals to United Daughters of the Confederacy; establish an independent civilian review board with subpoena power that is separate from the RPD; establish and fully fund the Marcus Alert System; release the names of all RPD officers currently under investigation for use-of-force misconduct.

Recognizing that Richmond Hill exists as a broad and diverse coalition of individuals and faith communities with varying beliefs and political views, we remain committed to praying for all involved, and particularly stand with those who are peaceably seeking justice.  We hope that through mutual respect all parties will be heard, and equality and fairness will be reached — especially for those too-long silenced.