Dear brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Fond du Lac,

The shooting this past Sunday of Jacob Blake in Kenosha places violence, racism, policing, protesting, rioting, and looting in front of us again. There is a lot we do not know, and we expect there will be a full and just enquiry into it all. But any shooting is tragic. And given what we have seen in recent months a black man being shot in the back is disturbing.

It is also disturbing that out-of-state armed vigilantes were allowed to wander the streets after curfew, leading to the killing of two people and the wounding of another. That the shooter was white and able to walk away without interference from the police is troubling.

We know that police work can be dangerous. And most police officers intend good. Still, there are policies for the legitimate use of potentially lethal force. When we see repeated examples of excessive use of force, disproportionately toward people of color, we sense that something must change. We can appreciate and support the work that police officers do while also seeking reform for better policing practices.

Our African-American brothers and sisters report a pattern of violence and mistreatment by too many police officers. This causes grief, anger, outrage, and fear. We can disapprove of rioting, violence, and looting while also supporting legitimate protest against mistreatment. Sadly, the stories of their own experiences of mistreatment are not hard to come by from people of color. For the sake of truth and love, we need to listen to their stories.

There has been progress in race relations in our society, yet racism remains pervasive. Our diocesan Mosaic Task Force continues to work to help us listen, learn, and better understand the persistence of racism. We must reflect with rigorous honesty upon our own racial prejudices – as we do with every sinful tendency.

Whatever else we know about Mr. Blake, he is a child of God, beloved by Jesus. As Christians we are called to love him. We pray for him.

Whatever else we know about Officer Sheskey, he is a child of God, beloved by Jesus. As Christians we are called to love him. We pray for him.

As disciples of Jesus, we are called to pray and to love. We are called to be people of the truth – even when it is inconvenient. We are called to care and to seek justice – especially for the people society does not seem to care about. I call on us to commit ourselves to being such a people. Pray for peace; pray for justice.

For some, understanding the history of racism in America is hard to grasp. In a recent clergy virtual gathering, Bishop Matt shared a 20-minute video from the creator of Veggie Tales which has informed him about that history with a broader understanding. If you are looking for a better understanding, this video, "Holy Post -Racism in America" is recommended viewing.

Province V of the Episcopal Church (dioceses in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and eastern Missouri) is hosting an open discussion on Dismantling Racism on Wednesday, October 30, 2019, at 10 am central. The discussion is led by the Rev. Susie Shafer, Province V representative to ECCAR (Executive Council Committee on Anti-Racism). It is hoped this becomes a regular, ongoing conversation, quarterly or monthly.
 
The purpose of this conversation

• connect with people from across the province who are doing the work of Dismantling Racism (which is a called a variety of things, including Anti-Racism and Becoming Beloved Community)
• learn about programs and trainings that are offered across the province / church
• connect with the larger church’s resources
• discuss options for in-person connecting and resource sharing opportunities
• share our hopes and dreams - where are we now and what else do we need?