Between May 29 and June 6 more than 500 people were arrested by the city of Cincinnati as the planned second step of a curfew imposed by Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley as a response to the protests that were organized on the heels of the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police.

The City arrested more than 500 people and charged them with "Misconduct at an Emergency," a first-degree misdemeanor that carries up to six months in jail and hefty fines. This charge was used solely for the purpose of corralling people and preventing protesters from remaining on the streets and exercising their human rights protected by the First Amendment. The City has called these “curfew violations” -- but this isn’t true. Curfew violations alone are simply ticketed offenses. Instead, the City of Cincinnati is going to the extreme by charging these protesters -- and bystanders who were on their way home from work -- with serious, bogus criminal charges carrying up to six months of jail time and large fines.  City Council is complicit -- passing a motion to encourage the Prosecutor to offer ways to dismiss the charges. But Council’s dismissal options are actually deceptive plea deals that will leave people who were simply exercising their First Amendment rights with criminal records that will hinder them for years to come--as well as deprive them of the option to seek justice for violations of their civil rights. We can't allow this gross injustice to happen! 

It is time for the city of Cincinnati to immediately, and with prejudice* DROP THE CHARGES!

We've been here before! In response to the Civil Rights movement the FBI worked with local law enforcement agencies to suppress and disrupt the actions of people working for justice. This criminalizing of the fight for Black lives has been but one part of the history of policing as a tool of racialized oppression in America. To do anything other than dropping the charges would be to continue the attack on people who have the courage to stand up for racial justice. 

*To drop the charges with prejudice means that the city cannot bring these same charges against these individuals at a later time.

We believe that God is always on the side of the oppressed in the struggle for liberation. For us that means God is on the side of Black people around the United States and around the world in their struggle against institutional and systemic racism.  We believe God calls on each of us to work to cultivate love, justice and liberation as well.  This is why we are working hard to build stronger and safer communities, ensure families have adequate food and nutrition, and support organizers by hosting the Cincinnati Bail Fund.  

Connect to a community of love & restoration.

We believe God calls us to engage with one another and in the community through acts of kindness and social justice. Jesus modeled this calling by living among and doing God's work with those society had placed on the margins.  At Beloved Community Church we take this calling seriously. If you interested in finding ways to engage with Beloved Community Church through worship, service or advocacy please fill out the form below so we can get connected. 

Liberation always requires sacrifice. Lent is the season that we intentionally practice sacrifice. We invite you to share a sacrificial gift to support the liberation of Black people and all oppressed people! Beloved Community Church is made possible by the gifts of people like you, our members and friends. Please give today to help us continue our work to bring God's love and justice into the world. 

Thank you for taking the time to fill out the Roselawn United Survey. This survey is intended for current Roselawn residents only. Your responses will be shared with Beloved Community Church, the Roselawn Community Council, and our partners as week seek to make Roselawn a stronger, safer community. 

June 12, 2015
Posted by Nelson Pierce · July 09, 2015 8:08 PM

June 5, 2015 RU Launch
Posted by Nelson Pierce · July 09, 2015 7:47 PM · 1 reaction

Today was the first day of our Roselawn United Canvass. After weeks of build-up, explanation and encouragement we were finally ready to go! We had a handfull of church members show up for the training.  During the training we emphasized the importance of listening while out in the neighborhood. I reminded our canvass team, "We are not going out to bring any message, we are going out to be a message..."