Reclaim Holy Week 2015

There was a lot of actions for the sake of Reclaim Holy Week, which tied into police brutality. From the one movement I was privileged to participate in last Sunday, I got a greater understanding of how reclaiming God would tie into police brutality and the recent murders of unarmed people of color, leading to no indictment.

Upon arriving by the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Statue on 25th Street in Harlem, members of the Coalition to End Broken Windows, Safety Beyond Policing, Cop Watch Patrol Unit The Bronx Chapter and a few other orgs were gathered, ready to make our cause be heard. Most of the signs had names of unarmed victims murdered by the cops or something about Jesus. I held this sign:

 

 

which caused a lot of controversy on my Facebook, but that's a different blog entry. Prior to reaching the action, I anticipated worship, talk of who and what Jesus really was and how the church has turned away from His ways of inclusion. Instead we spoke on right about everything we always speak on when we join collectively: police brutality, the new Jim Crow, and human rights.

For a moment it confused me. How does all this have to do with reclaiming holiness and Christian morale? But then I realized it ties in perfectly with Jesus. He was a man of color who was charged for a crime he didn't commit and was murdered. He was a revolutionary that radicalized the world. Jesus was everything many people of color are throughout history, people of color who want justice and equality. He is an example of a trend that has not haltered after centuries.

This is why we must reclaim holiness and God. The Romans corrupted the teachings of Christianity, and today we still see that happening. Commercializing religion for profit and imperialism is ongoing and that's why we who love God must include ourselves again in religion and not detach because those who have been taught wrongfully feel need to isolate themselves from "the worldly". Many LGBTQ, single parents and criminals lack a place of fellowship because they've been conditioned to feel unwelcomed at church and other places of worship; which shows there's a disconnect in the religious community. Jesus walked with the disciples but they went through the places and to the people who needed Him the most, remember that.

We marched and sang and slowed traffic to remind society we haven't forgot about those exterminated by the cops. We spoke on Ramsey Orta and those who are targeted by the police for turning in footage of their criminal behavior. We remembered that those who want justice end up in danger. There is a strong tie to power and corruption; we must resist it. This is why we fight and this is how we reclaim holy week, through the example Jesus set for us.