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Dear All Souls,

Like so many of you, your Ministry/Executive Team were holding our collective breath when we realized that the verdict would be released at 4:30 PM this evening. When we heard that Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all counts of murder, the emotional floodgates opened. Disbelief, astonishment, joy, tears and relief. The jury returned a clear, unequivocal verdict that sends a message to law enforcement across the country: officers can be held accountable for their actions. For all the unreported and unnecessary deaths at the hands of police; for all the failures of our legal system, for all the times that justice was denied; we see this verdict as the only appropriate response to the systemic racism and policing of Black and Brown bodies. And we know that today’s verdict is not enough. It does not bring back George Floyd – or any of the others killed by police; and it does not change the system.

To acknowledge the verdict, and focus on the work yet undone, All Souls will hold an All Souls Vigil of Recommitment at the church on Wednesday, April 21, at 1:00 PM. We invite you to attend a brief service on the front steps of All Souls. Come in person if able, for a socially distanced and masked event, and bring signs. This as an opportunity to recommit to the work of police reform, confronting racism and white supremacy, and creating a world in which all bodies are safe from state sanctioned violence.

In the event of rain and/ or inclement weather, we’ll create a short and simple prayer and sounding the bell service.

To check for updates about the event on Facebook, click here.