• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Sunday, September 24, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

Sen. Champion, church leaders call for community declaration in light of Charleston killings

by
June 30, 2015
9
SHARES
189
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn

The Black church must resume its once-prominent leadership role in addressing community issues and concerns, advised State Senator Bobby Joe Champion (DFL-Minneapolis).

Sen. Bobby Joe Champion
Sen. Bobby Joe Champion

While attending a June 24 community prayer vigil for the nine people slain at Charleston, South Carolina’s Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church (in the A.M.E. tradition, the oldest church in the area is formally called “Mother”) June 17, Pastor Alphonse Reff asked the North Minneapolis legislator to help facilitate a discussion of a small group gathering.

 

Champion told the small group gathered at Wayman A.M.E. Church in North Minneapolis, “The church always has been the backbone of our community. Where is the church now? We got to get back to that.”

“Everything starts in the church,” concurred Reff. “We need to bring it back into the church.” There are pressing issues besides the South Carolina Confederate flag that also must be addressed, continued Champion, to a unanimous chorus of “Amens” from the crowd.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Betty Webb voiced her concerns about education, especially how young Black children seemingly are disproportionately being classified as special education, which puts them on a non-removal track throughout their school years as a result. “Special education is a path to prison,” she pointed out, calling it “overt racism.”

“We need God’s people to pay attention to education,” responded Champion, who added that the community also pays attention to how state funds are being allocated.

“We have to change the conversation,” he advised. “The world is run by [the] people who show up. If you are not at the table, you’re on the menu. I don’t have all the answers. [But] I am ready to do my part.”

In its aftermath, Champion said Blacks should use the Charleston shooting as “an opportunity for change…to define what this moment means to us. What will we as people of faith ask and what will be our demand of ourselves and of others? How do you use this opportunity for change? How do we get past this situation? And will we ever get past it?”

Champion further suggested that a community “declaration” take place. “Sometimes it takes change in one place to get something changed in another place,” he said.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Afterwards, the state senator told the MSR that the entire community must not let the “defining moment” slip away: “If I am upset about the nine people dying [in Charleston], I’m upset about any of my brothers and sisters dying. Are we doing things to add to people’s lives or doing things that subtract from their individual lives?

“What are we going to do so [the nine] lives won’t be in vain, and not to let this tragedy get away? Because sometimes [tragedy] is an opportunity for us to recommit to something that’s meaningful. I don’t [want] people to have an emotional experience, be upset and get over the grief. I want them to say, ‘What does this moment mean?’”

When asked about people who are not of faith Champion said, “The issue of education is not a religious one. The issue of gun violence and families is not a religious one.

“The issue of transportation, equity and job opportunity so that we are creating pathways for our families out of poverty and into prosperity — that is a universal message. This isn’t just for people of faith but we need to wrestle with that as a community.

“I think the overarching question is where we go from here,” concluded Champion.  “I think we have to continue to move forward…to be the change we want to see.”

- ADVERTISEMENT -

 

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesman-recorder.com

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

The Black church and the strength to forgive

Next Post

Jack and Jill applies corporate branding to teens

You Might Also Like

60th anniversary of Birmingham church bombing unites families of victims and perpetrators
Opinion

Four Little Girls

Blue Line extension planning moves forward after two key votes
Local

Blue Line extension planning moves forward after two key votes

Compton's Finest
Arts & Culture

Fall into new jazz releases

Black Business Spotlight: Thoroughbred Moving and Installation
Black Business Spotlight

Black Business Spotlight: Thoroughbred Moving and Installation

Comcast donates free WiFi access to four Twin Cities nonprofits to increase digital opportunities in the region
Local

Comcast donates free WiFi access to four Twin Cities nonprofits to increase digital opportunities in the region

Two new early vote centers open in Minneapolis
Local

Early voting begins Sept. 22 for local elections

Next Post
Jack and Jill applies corporate branding to teens

Jack and Jill applies corporate branding to teens

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Sep 25
6:30 pm-8:30 pm

Community Roundtable with Ayodele Casel and Torya Beard

Sep 26
7:00 pm-9:00 pm

Climate and Equity in Minneapolis: What we could win in this year’s budget

Sep 27
8:00 am-12:45 pm

It’s Time to Talk: Forums on Race™

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: