Church takes a stand Members line sidewalk with posters

by Mark Jahne

Editor

Photos by Mark Jahne

The Racial Justice Steering Committee at the Rocky Hill Congregational Church doesn’t just talk the talk, it walks the walk.

Members of the Racial Justice Steering Committee at the Rocky Hill Congregational Church stood along the street March 8 professing their beliefs.

A dozen or so committee members stood on the sidewalk at the intersection of the Silas Deane Highway and Glastonbury Avenue the morning of March 8 holding posters that expressed their beliefs and questioned government actions.

“This is a group of people from our church who are standing up for what we believe is the Gospel. Every person has inherent value,” the Rev. David Figliuzzi, pastor of the church, said.

That included protesting what they consider are human rights violations by federal immigration officials. Their posters bore such messages as “honk for justice,” “just peace,” “empathy over empire” and “who would Jesus deport?”

These are some of the posters they showed to passing motorists.

Some passing motorists beeped their horns or waved to signal their support. Others gave a thumbs-down gesture or proclaimed their support for President Donald Trump.

“It began as immigration justice. This isn’t about partisan politics,” Figliuzzi added. He accused immigration agents of engaging in “legally approved profiling.”

Valerie Triblets is co-chairperson of the committee. She said she was a bit apprehensive but felt good about standing public witness for her beliefs.

“Four of us went to Washington, D.C., on Feb. 25 to be part of a larger group … this is the work that God calls us to do,” she said.

Committee members believe that part of bearing witness to their faith is a willingness to share it in public.

That group consisted of people representing many different faiths.

“We believe it’s the core of our faith. That’s why we’re here. As we do this it helps us become stronger in our own beliefs,” Triblets added.

They did the same thing this past year.

Val Triblets and Brian Donahue are co-chairpersons of the Racial Justice Steering Committee at the Rocky Hill Congregational Church.

“It’s all intertwined. The committee started after George Floyd was murdered,” she said.

It also has taken a stand in support of the LGBTQ+ community. RHL