Our Call for Justice and Accountability

Members of the RCA’s African American/Black Council respond to the recent tragedies in Ferguson and New York City.

Members of the RCA’s African American/Black Council respond to the recent tragedies in Ferguson and New York City: 

In the past month, two separate grand juries have shown us that not only is the U.S. justice system broken, but we live in a country where clearly there is not justice for all.

Historically, the African American/Black Council of the Reformed Church in America has stood for racial justice and equality within the denomination and ecumenically. We are appalled at the lack of justice and accountability in the Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Tamir Rice cases.

The Ferguson and Staten Island grand jury decisions compel and call the church to reflect on how we have contributed to the racial climate in our communities and in this country.

Furthermore, we need to be the agent of change, working towards changing police practices and eliminating district attorney and police biases, and grand jury laws that lack transparency and accountability.

Since God is no respecter of persons, we are called to live in a world where everyone is held to the highest standard of accountability to treat all people with dignity, value, and civility. No one should ever experience fear or racial injustice walking down the street, encountering the police, or in the application of our laws.

We stand in solidarity with the Brown, Garner, and Rice families and the people of Ferguson, New York City, and other cities throughout this nation, pursuing justice and equality for all!

Related stories:

• It’s Time: Responding to Grand Jury Decisions, by Tom De Vries
• Praying Our Way to Change, by the senior ministers of the Collegiate Churches of New York
• National Council of Churches Makes Statement on Ferguson