Dear Supporter,
Tonight, we have all heard the disturbing news from Missouri that there will be no justice in the shooting death of Michael Brown at the hands of police. We as the Jewish community stand in solidarity with the people now taking action to demand that their lives be seen as meaningful by those who are supposed to protect them.
All lives matter. That’s the first message the Torah gives us about human beings.
Much of what we will hear in the days ahead will be about protester violence, but that is not the main story. The real story is that human beings are taking action to say that all lives matter. We hope that the police will respect the right to protest, and will refrain from the use of violence or military weapons. At the November 5 press conference of the Don’t Shoot Coalition of St. Louis, a coalition of over 50 groups, the Coalition promised, “If Officer Wilson is not indicted, we will do our part to try to de-escalate violence without de-escalating action…Nothing will make a difference unless the police do their part by giving protesters adequate space. That’s the key to peaceful outcomes.”
We at T’ruah stand with this sentiment. We support the right of justifiably angry people to voice their anger in public.
As many of you know, T’ruah board member Rabbi Susan Talve has been actively providing solidarity and support since Michael Brown’s death. Her community at Central Reform Congregation is serving as a sanctuary space for protesters. I asked her to reflect on today’s decision and she wrote:
The past three months have challenged us to “walk the walk” as a congregation. As a community that embraces Jews of color, and has always been committed to challenging the injustices of racism in St. Louis, we could not stand idly by as Michael Brown’s death touched a nerve throughout the nation, and forced St. Louis to confront the reality that there are two Fergusons, and two Americas. We have police officers in our congregation and our families, yet we must not be afraid to demand accountability from law enforcement that practices racial profiling and provocation and has done so for many years. Our core values of being a civil-minded and justice-seeking congregation guide us and challenge us to be part of the budding solution. I stand with the protestors because they are calling for a serious confrontation with institutional racism and I believe that we all need to do this work. I stand with the protestors because they have kept the peace for over 100 days by promoting non-violent civil disobedience and providing ways for many who are frustrated and angry to express themselves through marching, acts of civil disobedience and building memorials to those who have died, and by showing us what democracy looks like.
Here is how you can show solidarity with the protesters in their call for justice and peace:
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Hear the narrative that the protesters–those most affected by police violence–are telling. Sign up for the This is the Movement newsletter, follow breaking events on twitter at #ferguson, and read updates from the Don’t Shoot Coalition of St. Louis. On the ground actions are being coordinated at NoIndictment.org.
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Join a local action. Protests of support are taking place across the country: click here to learn more.
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Speak out in your synagogue in Jewish community in a way that challenges the narrative of unjustified protester violence. Click here for resources and breaking news via T’ruah.
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Donate financial support for the protesters, which includes bail support.
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Offer words of prayer. T’ruah rabbinical student fellowship alumna Sandra Lawson wrote these beautiful words of reflection, structured around the Hashkivenu prayer.
May God spread God’s shelter of peace over all of us during these difficult times.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster
Director of Programs