RJAF: speaking against injustice 

Wale Hudson-Roberts introduces the official launch event of the Racial Justice Advocacy Forum on 15 February

The murder of George Floyd sent shock around the world. It was rare to see the murder even of a Black man go global, and it was no surprise organisations sought to rid of racial injustice. It seemed the killing of George Floyd had made them accountable. 

But sadly this was short lived. Aspirations for radical change with the intent of reinforcing Black Lives do matter have slowed down, even got lost in the ether. 

Not so with the Racial Justice Advocacy Forum (RJAF). It was inspired by the tragic passing of George Floyd and is growing from strength to strength.

The RJAF is a racial justice movement which protests against racial injustice and speaks truth to power with churches. It is acutely aware of the need to spotlight racial injustice and bring it to the attention of the churches for them to consider how best to challenge it.

The CTBI, CTE, the Methodist Church, URC, Salvation Army, Sam Sharpe Project, Evangelical Alliance, Ascension Trust, Baptists Together, the Quakers and the Movement for Reconciliation and Change are the voice of RJAF. The catalyst that brought RJAF together was the killing of George Floyd. Like the murder of Stephen Lawrence, this was a watershed moment for the nations and our churches. 

In response the church had two options: to remain silent in the face of an audacious racist murder; or to do what Jesus would encourage the church to do, speak against injustice. The gathering chose the latter and in 2020 the RJAF was birthed.

The RJAF has not been silent. From responding to the 2021 Commission for Race and Ethnic Disparity Report to organising webinars such as The Church and Reparations, the movement has been reactive and strategic and in a state of constant challenge with the churches that support it.

Now the RJAF is to hold an official launch to share more about its work with churches interested in how they can respond to racial injustice. This will take place on 15 Feb 2023 at Bloomsbury Baptist Church from 7pm.

The founder of Street Pastors the Revd Les Issac will be the keynote speaker, while the HEBE Foundation will also be contributing. With the evening laced with music, poetry and diverse creative expressions the RJAF launch is set to be an exciting evening foregrounding the necessity of a racial justice movement, and the ways in which it can support our churches struggling with a voice in this arena.

In more recent days racism has become an evil force to be reckoned with. Whether it is the racialisation of Child Q or the death of Chris Kaba it has evidenced itself as alive and kicking. The churches cannot stand still and silent.

You are therefore invited to the RJAF launch to consider how churches can speak against racial injustice, why and when? 

Register your place here.
 

Wale Hudson-Roberts is the Justice Enabler of the Baptist Union of Great Britain