Testimonial Statement in Defense of “The Black Lives Matters Movement"

By William H. Foster III

There are several reasons why I believe it’s important that we as a church family support the Black Lives Matter movement with a public banner.

  First and foremost is because it is one of our responsibilities as people of faith. We are taught that we are one family, and that we must stand for up one another.

  My second reason is, to put it bluntly, a selfish one. I would prefer not to have my life ended because someone decides arbitrarily, that as a Black man I don’t have a right to be here. It is a dark possible consequence that I have had to adjust to.

  Recent history has shown that even some of those who are sworn to protect me as a citizen have demonstrated that they are more than capable and willing to end my life and worst, have no fear of consequences. This is unacceptable. I look to my family to help deal with this injustice.

 In my opinion, when I hear “All Lives Matters” when someone is confronted with the reality of increasing acts of violence against people of color in America, it smacks of disingenuousness and dishonesty. We ALL know what’s at stake. Now is the time to stand together, and deal with this very real threat.

In the words of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:

“In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

© 2019 by William H. Foster III