Provided by National City Christian Church
WASHINGTON, DC, January 5, 2021 – Historic, John Russell Pope-designed National City Christian Church plans to erect 16-feet banners from the front columns on the morning of unprecedented action in the U.S. Congress to deny President-elect Joseph R. Biden, Jr. the presidency of a fair and free national election. With thousands of President Donald J. Trump supporters and self-proclaimed white nationalists descending on the streets of the nation’s capital, National City Christian Church will once again, as has been its long-storied history, stand boldly for the civil rights and freedoms of black and brown American people.
“As followers of Jesus Christ, we reject the president’s call to violence and continue to proclaim that Black Lives Matter,” Interim Senior Minister, Rev, Dr. Amy Butler said in a statement released with photos of the banners to be erected. “We oppose the ideals of white supremacy and white Christian nationalism, and declare that our church will continue to be a place of peace and healing.”
When previous pro-Trump demonstrations have occurred in the city, many houses of worship were intentionally vandalized, and their “Black Lives Matter” signs and banners stolen and burned in acts of racial hatred. National City’s own “Black Lives Matter” banner was ripped from the fences of the outdoor Wilfley Chapel and discarded. Luther Place Lutheran Church across 14th Street from National City has also been repeatedly targeted by these purveyors of hate and violent intimidation.
The banners will replace ones currently displaying the words of South Carolina Poet Laureate, Marjory Wentworth’s poem, One Hundred Thousand Names, responding to the current COVID-19 pandemic. The “Black Lives Matter” banners will be erected at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, January 6, the day the 117th Congress convenes to certify the votes of the Electoral College.
National City Christian Church, the national church for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), is an LGBTQ open and inclusive church. Each Sunday, we welcome all to the Lord’s Table for communion, as God has welcomed us.
Tammi Bell
I love the banner and I love that all are welcome.. May GOD continue to Bless us all.