This past Saturday, as you are probably aware by now, neo-Nazi’s showed up at a Rose Dynasty family friendly drag show and charity event. Momma Ashley Rose/Jason DeShazo, is our friend and community partner. You can read about it here:
This sort of vile hatred is unacceptable. It is an evil rooted in white supremacy and a distorted and dangerous theology that is disconnected from life, love, and compassion. And we, who center love and the understanding that love is the action we take towards justice, must not be complicit. Our voice must soar high above this bigotry, it must proclaim the truth and lead the way towards justice and peace for all. Our actions must show solidarity, creating a sacred space– a sanctuary– where people who are a target of this Nazi hatred can know that they are affirmed, loved, and safe in our community. Indeed we, as a community, are a target of their vitriol. Let us not forget that none of us are safe until we are all safe.
Let us also not retreat in fear. That’s what they want. They want a platform from which they can create fear and chaos because ultimately, they want power.
I can assure you, however, that hate will not win. The forces of love and compassion are at work. Last night, Brandon and I met with other faith leaders of the Lakeland community. I felt a deep renewal of the spirit. There is a large group of faith leaders coming together to denounce hatred and bigotry, to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ community, the Jewish community, and others who are being targeted. There is a large group of faith leaders coming together to be the voice of love, models for how we want this world to be. Many of them are Christian, but they are also Jewish and Buddhist, and of course, Unitarian Universalist! And we expect more leaders from other faiths to join us.
Soon, a statement will be released to the press from this interfaith group. Expect to see it in The Ledger and LAL Today. We are working on a few other things, as well- actions that will bring our words and our love to life– in order to strengthen our diversity and the ways in which we create solidarity and a safe community. I will surely keep you posted.
Thank you all for being a part of this UUCL community. I look forward to all the ways we can cocreate a loving sanctuary, changing the world around us with our hope, our compassion, and our gratitude for life.