On May 25, 2021 UUGP commemorated the one-year anniversary of the murder and death of George Floyd by installing a “Side With Love – Black Lives Matter” Banner on the outside of our building.

Unitarian Universalist Church To Display Black Lives Matter Banner On Their Building On Anniversary of George Floyd Murder

The Unitarian Universalists of Grants Pass installed a Black Lives Matter banner on their building to commemorate the murder of George Floyd. The congregation voted unanimously to publicly show its support for racial justice and the Black Lives Matter movement. The congregation gathered for an outdoor ceremony to inaugurate the banner. 

“Our first principle is to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person and so we make this public action” said Alison Duren-Sutherland, the Church’s Intern Minister. They will mount the Black Lives Matter banner to give public witness to their beliefs.  

For several years the Grants Pass congregation and the UU Association of churches has engaged in study and conversation about the work for racial justice that the Black Lives Matter movement has raised. They believe being part of white America they must look at themselves to see how they contribute to racism and work to create justice and equality for all people. 

The UU religion has supported the fight for equal rights of all Americans since the United States was founded. The Unitarian minister Theodore Parker in his 1853 sermon said “I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one…from what I see it bends towards justice.” Barbara Moore, a member of the congregation said, “Our work for justice is needed to help bend that moral arc along its way to justice.”