Watch: Religious Activists Remember the Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville
August 17, 2020
On the third anniversary of the August 12, 2017 “Unite the Right” white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, UVA Professor Jalane Schmidt moderated a conversation with religious racial justice activists who, like her, were on the streets engaged in counter-protests. Schmidt was joined by Deacon Don Gathers, Rabbi Rachel Schmelkin, Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou, and Grace Aheron. Learn more about the speakers here.
Photo © Jordy Yager
Resources & Readings
Local & National Racial Justice Organizations
Congregate Charlottesville is faith-rooted action and justice oriented education which sponsors the Cville Anti-Racist Organizing fund to support Black youth organizing, and the Cville Cares fund to support community mutual aid to address food insecurity and other financial hardships during the COVID crisis.
Public Housing Association of Residents
Phar CVille’s mission is to educate and empower low-income residents to protect and improve their own communities through collective action.
Jefferson School African American Heritage Center
The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center’s mission is to honor and preserve the rich heritage and legacy of the African-American community of Charlottesville and Albemarle County, Virginia and to promote a greater appreciation for, and understanding of, the contributions of African Americans and peoples of the Diaspora locally, nationally and globally.
Deep Abiding Love is a St. Louis based training collective. We do nonviolent training, creative action planning, political education and strategy.
Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)
SURJ is a national network of groups and individuals working to undermine white supremacy and to work for racial justice. Through community organizing, mobilizing, and education, SURJ moves white people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for justice with passion and accountability.
Civil Disobedience Training/Community Organizing
Video: Rev. Osagyefo Sekou and Lisa Fithian: Militant Nonviolent Civil Disobedience Training
Book & Website: Shut It Down: Stories From a Fierce and Loving Resistance by Lisa Fifthian
Readings in Religious Studies and Racism
A reading list compiled by Oludamini Ogunnaike, UVA Assistant Professor of African Religious Thought and Democracy, click link below.