By Carie Kuehn
BLOOMINGTON – Residents came together from the community to remember the victims in Dallas and all the victims of violence and racism throughout the country on Monday night.
“We really need to see each other as human beings,” said Mike Matejka from Not In Our Town . “That’s people in the community, that’s people of diverse background, that’s our law enforcement. There is so much tension in our nation right now, this is an opportunity to come together in our diversity and say we’re all human, we all support each other, we need each other to heal .”
“It is really beginning to seem that way, that we can’t find civil ways to discourse,” said Anne Libert, and retired teacher from Unit 5 and Not In Our Town volunteer. “We seem to want to attack the other and blame the other, no matter who the other is.”
The gathering came in the wake of the shootings in Dallas that killed five law enforcement officers, along with multiple shootings and riots across the country dealing with racism and police brutality.
“I do not like injustice. I want people to be treated equally,” said Libert. “The only way we can do that is if we all work together.”
“To claim light in darkness, to remember the lives and potential that have been lost as a result of violence against our brothers and sisters,” said Rev. Kelly Becker of First Community Christian Church. “And to look forward to a different future for our neighborhoods, our community and our nation.”
Members of different religious communities came together to speak out against violence.
“Brothers and sisters, whatever they are. Black, white, tall, short, rich, poor. They are brothers,” said Imam Abu Emad AL-Talla of the Islamic Center in Bloomington.
Not In Our Town is a movement that preaches coming together in diversity to stand against bullying, violence, prejudice and racism. The service was help at First Community Christian Church in downtown Bloomington.
“It is imperative to understand the value for which we live, and what value God has placed in each and every one of us,” said Rev. Frank McSwain of Mt. Pisgah Bapitst Church.
“You must love your neighbor,” said Rabbi Rebecca Dubowe. “That is the greatest commandment taught.”
Carie Kuehn can be reached at carie.kuehn@cumulus.com.
