Our sister UU church in Kingston, Mass., was vandalized on July 4th in an apparent act of racist and anti-LGBTQ violence. We stand in solidarity with them and urge our members to attend the community service announced below:
Vandalized Kingston Church Announces Community Service on Tuesday, July 9th
July 6, 2024, 12:00pm
The members and friends of First Parish Kingston MA are shocked and saddened at the violent and targeted attack on our beloved Meetinghouse that occurred in the early morning hours of July 4th. Our historic building sustained significant damage, and the Pride and Black Lives Matter flags affixed to the front of our building were ripped down and burned. We are keenly aware of the long and ugly history of such desecrations and burnings.
Our church teaches love and understanding for every person, including those who commit crimes like this. We reject all forms of hate and violence. We are proud that our church is a place where everyone can be safe and loved. Even though that sense of safety has been deeply violated by this incident, our collective commitment to being an open, caring and supportive community for all has only been strengthened.
We are grateful for the many messages of concern and solidarity we have received from the public and from our fellow Unitarian Universalists across Massachusetts and New England. We also express our thanks to all branches of law enforcement for their hard work on this case. All are invited to join us on Tuesday, July 9th at 6pm for a community service of prayer and healing. Please join us on the lawn of Beal House/Sampson Hall at 222 Main Street, Kingston MA 02364 (across the street from the Meetinghouse).
First Parish Kingston
781-585-3051
kingstonuu@comcast.net
