UCC Officers grieve after racist killing of three Black people by white shooter in Florida

On Saturday, Aug. 26, a white man shot and killed three Black people in Jacksonville, Fla., in a racist attack. The Officers of the United Church of Christ grieve for the loved ones and communities of those who lost their lives, and they call once again for responsible gun legislation and an end to the plague of racism.

The national Officers of the United Church of Christ join the nation in mourning the murders in Jacksonville, Fla., this weekend of Angela Michelle Carr, Anolt Joseph “A.J.” Laguerre Jr., and Jerrald De’Shaun Gallion. Tragically, they joined the long list of those who lost their lives to racialized hatred. Our prayers are with these families who grieve, and for all who are repeatedly traumatized by the frequency and the persistence of racism and of gun violence, which often converge in this country.

We also pray for the students attending the nearby historically Black university, Edward Waters University, where the gunman first attempted to enter before being stopped by a security officer. We pray for the restoration of a sense of safety and peace deserved by every student. Our college campuses and school yards should never be used as shooting ranges. Our children should not live in fear of being targets of weaponized hate.

As people of faith, our hearts are also troubled and grieve for the shooter. Not only did he have easy and legal access to assault weapons, he also had internalized ideas of hatred based on racism that also too easily prevail. Together, these enabled him to become a murderer instead of someone more ready to see the humanity of his neighbor. The shooter used a Glock handgun and an AR-15 style rifle, which the NRA names as the most popular rifle in this country. We stand with those who advocate for responsible gun legislation in this country.

Finally, we pray for our nation that is infected with hateful rhetoric and violent language in the name of God. 1 John 4:20 states: “If we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars. For we cannot love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love others, whom we have seen.” Hatred destroys in many ways. It destroys our hearts of compassion for one another, it destroys our unified strength as a nation of people, it destroys our humanity toward one another, and when weaponized with assault weapons, it destroys innocent lives over and over again.

Holy One, help us to move from reflection to repentance and give us the courage to move beyond thoughts and prayers to meaningful change. Amen.

The National Officers of the United Church of Christ
The Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, General Minister and President
The Rev. Traci Blackmon, Associate General Minister, Justice & Local Church Ministries
Peter Makari, Transitional Executive for Wider Church Ministries and Co-Executive for Global Ministries

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