Short Summary
Flag for Justice
The Central PA chapter of SURJ - Showing Up for Racial Justice
What We Need & What You Get
So here's what we need, and how you can help...
- We have thirty days to raise $3500
- Your contribution of $40 gets you a flag
- Your contribution of $100 or more gets you a flag and your name in our materials as a benefactor - this additional money will be used to support the initiation of a SURJ chapter in Central PA, and to pay for training for members to contribute to helping to dismantle racism in our community.
The Impact
I drove home to Huntingdon one day this summer after having been out of town for a week, and was greeted by a number of Confederate flags hanging from the porches of our community's homes.
Having just read about yet another horrible act of racial violence, this time in a black church, My friend Susan and I felt fed up, impotent, and sadder than we had felt before. "I'm so sick of praying for peace," one of us said. But what can we do?
We took to Facebook - where else - and asked our friends. What we learned was that the best way to combat what we perceived as racism was to send a strong positive message to the targeted community. And the Flag for Justice was born.
Rather than try to change the minds of those whom we might not be able to reach, we decided it was a better act of social justice to show who we are. And we want to show that we are a community for equality, justice, and peace.
The hope is that our loud, positive message can drown out the less friendly ones that we've seen, communicating to those in our town, and those visiting us, that Huntingdon, PA is a safe place for all people.
We want our children to grow up in a community that supports equality.
We want our students to feel safe walking home at night.
We want our colleagues to feel welcome when they move here.
We want Racial Justice.
Now is the time. Please join us. And thanks.
Risks & Challenges
We can only order flags if we make our goal of $3500. So, please consider giving as much as you can. Our plan is to order 100 flags, and if we have more contributions than orders, we can give them free to people who cannot afford them.
Giving the extra money helps you to make an impact in Huntingdon County by supporting both racial and economic justice.
It might not be widely popular, but it is well worth the risk and possible criticism to stand up for equality and justice in our community.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you can't afford a flag or contribution, you can still help! Get the word out. Join our Facebook group. Spread the message of equality.
Peace.
- Lynn and Susan