• About
    • About Us
    • What We Cover
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Our Advertisers
  • Contact
  • Send News
  • Subscribe

Oak Ridge Today

  • Home
  • Sign in
  • News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Police and Fire
    • U.S. Department of Energy
    • Weather
  • 2018 Election
  • Sports
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Recreation
    • Rowing
    • Youth
  • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Dancing
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Premium Content
  • Obituaries












Oak Ridge faith leaders condemn racism, hatred, ask City Council to do the same

Posted at 11:48 am August 16, 2017
By John Huotari 15 Comments

Reacting to the deadly violence at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, this past weekend, Oak Ridge faith leaders on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, condemned white supremacy, racism, anti-semitism, and other forms of hatred, and they asked the Oak Ridge City Council to adopt a resolution expressing similar sentiments. The statement of condemnation was read by Derrick Hammond, pastor of Oak Valley Baptist Church. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Reacting to the deadly violence at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, this past weekend, Oak Ridge faith leaders on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, condemned white supremacy, racism, anti-semitism, and other forms of hatred, and they asked the Oak Ridge City Council to adopt a resolution expressing similar sentiments. The statement of condemnation was read by Derrick Hammond, pastor of Oak Valley Baptist Church. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Reacting to the deadly violence at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, this past weekend, Oak Ridge faith leaders on Monday condemned white supremacy, racism, anti-semitism, and other forms of hatred, and they asked the Oak Ridge City Council to adopt a resolution expressing similar sentiments.

The statement of condemnation of hatred and racism was read by Derrick Hammond, pastor of Oak Valley Baptist Church, during a Monday evening meeting of the Oak Ridge City Council as 14 other clergy members stood by him in support.

It came two days after a 32-year-old Virginia woman was killed and 19 other people were injured after a car plowed into counter-protesters on the day of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. About two hours after the car crash, two Virginia state troopers who both have East Tennessee ties were killed when their police helicopter crashed and burned; the helicopter had been involved in providing surveillance and information during the day, the Charlottesville Daily Progress reported.

“This past weekend, a 32-year-old young lady by the name of Heather Heyer lost her life, and many others were seriously injured at a Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia,” the Oak Ridge faith leaders said in their statement delivered to City Council on Monday. “The white nationalists, neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klan members, and other ‘alt-right’ hate groups were gathered in order to ‘take America back.’

“While the kind of hate, bigotry, and white supremacist ideology that we witnessed in Charlottesville is not new to America, this racist minority movement has been emboldened by what they perceive as support for their un-American world view. Their rhetoric and actions threaten the historic progress our ancestors, from many faiths and ethnic backgrounds, have made toward equality for all. It is now our responsibility and privilege to celebrate the rich diversity of our nation and continue their work. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Churches, Community, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: alt-right, Charlottesville, Chuck Hope, condemnation of hatred and racism, Derrick Hammond, Ellen Smith, Father Brent Shelton, First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge, First Christian Church of Oak Ridge, First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge, First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge, Flynn Partnerships, Grace Covenant Church, Hans Vogel, Heather Heyer, Jewish Congregation of Oak Ridge, Jim Dodson, Kelly Callison, Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge faith leaders, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, Oak Valley Baptist Church, Rabbi Victor Rashkovsky, Reverend Annette Flynn, Reverend Brian Scott, Reverend Carolyn Dipboye, Reverend Jake Morrill, Reverend Larry Dipboye, Reverend Mark Flynn, Reverend Rory Naeve, Reverend Sharon Youngs, Reverend Steve Sherman, Rick Chinn, Robertsville Baptist Church, St. Mary's Catholic Church, Unite the Right rally, Warren Gooch, white nationalist rally, white nationalists

Search Oak Ridge Today

A Twitter List by OakRidgeToday

Classifieds

Public notice: AC Commission schedules workshop on proposed DOE landfill

The Anderson County Board of Commissioners has scheduled a workshop for Monday, January 7, 2019, … [Read More...]

Job posting: Part Time Administrative Position

Part Time Administrative position for non-profit organization in Oak Ridge. Detail-oriented … [Read More...]

Alcoholics Anonymous has weekly meetings in Oak Ridge

Faced with a drinking problem? Perhaps Alcoholics Anonymous can help. Weekly meetings are open to … [Read More...]

Recent Comments

  • Matt Bailey on Dodson also wants to serve as mayor pro tem
  • Mark Caldwell on Dodson also wants to serve as mayor pro tem
  • Matt Bailey on Dodson also wants to serve as mayor pro tem
  • Mark Caldwell on Dodson also wants to serve as mayor pro tem
  • Matt Bailey on Dodson also wants to serve as mayor pro tem
  • Tracy Powers on Planning Commission to consider Main Street apartments, plan revisions
  • johnhuotari on Four incumbents re-elected to Oak Ridge City Council
  • Levi D. Smith on Four incumbents re-elected to Oak Ridge City Council
  • samuel hopwood on Housing: Apartments proposed on former AMSE site
  • Matt Bailey on Robin Smith named Oak Ridge police chief

Recent Posts

  • (For members) Retiring Bull Run, Paradise could save millions, more than $1 billion in ‘lifetime costs’
  • Council, DOE to discuss proposed amendment to historical interpretation agreement
  • Oak Ridge police chief to discuss crime, traffic safety
  • Sponsored: Ulster Project to celebrate peace-building with Mardi Gras event
  • Hearne joins ORNL as director of the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences
  • Virtual career fair for ORNL on Feb. 20
  • Interfaith Harmony events on Friday, Saturday
  • One lane of SR 116 open, with temporary signal, for 4-5 weeks
  • No injuries reported when car crashes into school bus
  • TVA board unanimously approves closing Bull Run Fossil Plant

Archives

About Us

About Oak Ridge Today
What We Cover

How To

Advertise
Subscribe

Contact Us

Contact Oak Ridge Today

Copyright © 2019 Oak Ridge Today