Churches across Southport have joined forces to say “God created only one race of people” as they reacted to the shocking death of George Floyd in the US.
They say they have been appalled at the number of stories where people have been victims of racial abuse.
And they are calling on everyone in Southport to “love, protect, encourage, support and care for one another” and do all we can to fight racism.
On May 25 George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, died in Minneapolis after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for almost nine minutes. His tragic death has led to protests taking place across the UK and the UK.
Churches across Southport have now united against racism, sending an open letter through Stand Up For Southport. They said:
“Over the past few weeks, our national, local and personal news feeds have been dominated not just by the current Covid-19 pandemic we are facing and continuing to navigate our way through, but with reports of another long standing enemy that has infiltrated our ranks as human beings, that of racism. Following recent events in Minneapolis with George Floyd’s life being cruelly taken from him, it has brought this issue much more to the fore.
“When God set the world as we know it in motion, He created only one race of people – the human race – with one mandate – to love, protect, encourage, support and care for one another – one that remains just as true and just as needed today, arguably, more than it ever has given this current crisis we are in.
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“As church leaders across this town, we have the incredible privilege of leading, serving and sharing life with a huge diversity of people, made up of different languages, cultures, and skin colours – something we delight in, celebrate, and actively embrace as we know our lives and our communities are so much richer for it.
“Over the past few weeks, we’ve been appalled at the number of stories shared where both past and present, people close to us and their families have been victims of racial abuse with slurs made against them because their skin is of a different shade. No-one should ever have to walk into their school, workplace or across the road in fear of being subjected to such behaviour.
“Southport, let’s not tolerate this! Let’s unite together and make a decision not to remain silent but to use our voices and everything in our power to stand up, speak out, and eradicate this evil from our midst!”
Southport One Church – a network of local church leaders
Ainsdale Methodist Church
Canning Road Chapel
Christ Church
Community Church
Glasshouse
Grace Baptist Church
Lakeside Church
Leyland Road Methodist Church
Open Well
Salvation Army
Shoreline Church
SNR Baptist Church
Southport Methodist Circuit
St Philips and St Paul with Wesley
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