Together Colorado Condemns Racially-Motivated Hate Incident at Amendment A Campaign Co-Chair’s Home

For Immediate Release
November 5, 2018
Contact: Kamau Allen, [email protected], 720.937.3453

As a faith-driven organization, we are called to reconciliation and healing, and it is thus particularly painful when confronted with the kind of hate that is behind today’s incident of burned Amendment A door hangers left at the home of one of our African American co-chairs, Jumoke Emery-Brown.

On Monday evening we received terrible and frightening news. One of our previous organizers and Abolish Slavery Colorado co-chairs, Jumoke Emery-Brown, was the subject of what appears to be a racially motivated threat. A stack of Amendment A door hangers was burned on his front porch. We are thankful that no one was hurt, but we are appalled that this happened.

Given the political and racial context in which we live today, we consider this act shameful and dangerous. This act is reminiscent of the days when black organizers were regular targets of threats and violence from white supremacists. We see tonight’s injustice as an attempt to scare a black family and as a symbolic attack against Amendment A and what it stands for.

This hateful incident is intrinsically tied to Amendment A. Amendment A represents reconciliation and moving forward as a state. It represents our values as Colorado. We have an opportunity to denounce the legacy of bigotry and hatred at the polls when we vote on Tuesday and vote Yes on A, to Abolish Slavery from our Constitution.

We must stand together, heal together and vote together.

Signed by 138 Together Colorado Board Members, Faith Leaders, and Abolish Slavery Colorado Coalition Members:

Sharon Bridgeforth, Board President, Together Colorado and Abolish Slavery Colorado Chair

Lee McNeil, Board Director, Together Colorado and Abolish Slavery Colorado Chair

Rev. Dr. Anne Rice-Jones, Together Colorado Board Director, Rose of Sharon, Lakewood*

Rabbi Bernard Gerson, Board Treasurer, Together Colorado

Pastor Caitlin Trussell, Augustana Lutheran Church, Denver*

Rev. Tammy Garrett-Williams, Above Waters Project, Lakewood*

Rev. Dr. Timothy Tyler, Shorter AME Community Church, Denver*

Rev. Eric Banner, Jefferson Unitarian Church, Golden*

Fr. Stephen Adams, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Loveland*

Rabbi Eliot Baskin, Temple Emanuel, Denver*

Rabbi Hillel Katzir, Retired, Fort Collins

Rev. Laurel Liefert, Namaqua Unitarian Universalist Church, Loveland*

Rev. Wendy Jones, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Grand Valley, Grand Junction*

Rev. Wendy Williams, Jefferson Unitarian Church, Golden*

Rev. Lydia Ferrante-Roseberry, Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Lafayette*

Rev. Jann Halloran, Prairie UU Church, Parker*

Fr. Terry Kissell, St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, Aurora*

Rev. Nature Johnston, The Episcopal Church of the Nativity, Grand Junction*

Rev. Bich Thy Betty Nguyen, Mountain Sky Conference of the Methodist Church*

Rev. Liliana Stahlberg, Lord of the Mountains Lutheran Church, Dillon*

Rev. Mark Meeks, Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church, Denver*

Rev. Laura Stephenson, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Grand Junction*

Rabbi Brian Field, Judaism Your Way, Denver*

Fr. Bert Chilson, St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, Glenwood Springs*

Deacon Cynthia M. Robles, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America*

1. Malcolm Newton, Th. D., Denver Institute of Urban Studies, Denver*

Judy Lounsberry, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Littleton*

Rev. Anna Scott, Center for Spiritual Living, Grand Junction*

Rev. Brigette Weier, Bethany Lutheran Church, Cherry Hills Village*

Sr. Lisa Reynolds, Loretto Community, Denver*

Rev. Jeff Hirota, Community Foundation Boulder County*

Rev. Amy Morgan, First Presbyterian Church, Loveland*

Rev. Tawana Davis, Soul to Soul, Denver*

Rev. Jyoti DeVernie, Center for Spiritual Living Boulder Valley, Lafayette*

Rev. Terry Purvis-Smith, ELCA, Denver

Fr. Brian Morrow, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Denver*

Chaplain Jane Reina, Denver

Dr. Eric Nelson, Aurora

Rabbi Joseph Black, Temple Emanuel, Denver*

Rev. Michael Tassler, Colorado Springs

Sheik Husayn El-Mekki Adbullah Aziz, Ahl al-Bayt Assembly of America*

Rev. Janet Kettering, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, ELCA, Boulder*

Rev Phil Kettering , King of Kings Lutheran Church, Pueblo*

AJ vonTime, Intern Minister, Boulder Valley UU Fellowship, Lafayette*

Judy Huston, Boulder Friends Meeting*

Rev. Jim Chapman, United Church of Christ, retired, Colorado Springs*

Rev. Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson, Disciples of Christ, Longmont*

Rev. Pedro Silva, First Congregational Church (UCC), Boulder*

Fr. Carlos Alvarez, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Grand Junction*

Rev. Jennifer S. Leath, Ph.D., Campbell Chapel AME Church, Aurora*

Rev. Ann B. Christensen, Denver

Pastor Mark B Matthews, The Journey Advent Ministries, Thornton*

Marilyn Stranske, St. John’s Cathedral, Denver*

Maureen Flanigan, Columbine Unitarian Universalist Church, Littleton*

Rev. Steve Goering, Mennonite minister, retired, Fort Collins*

Rev. Dr. Amy Rowland, Community Minister, Denver*

Rev. Paul Carlson, St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Northglenn*

Director Peter Severson, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado*

Rev. Jessica Abell, GreenFaith Colorado, Denver*

Rev. Simon Shadowlight, Mile Hi Church, Lakewood*

Rev. Marnie Leinberger, Milagro Christian Church, Pueblo*

Rev. Joe Barrera, Colorado Springs

Rev. Andrew Midgyett, Shorter Community AME, Denver*

Christie C. Hanzlik, CS, Boulder*

Stan McNeese, Koinonia, Grand Junction*

Janet Altmann, Faith Leaders in Action, Pueblo*

Rev. Karen Winkel, Community Spirit Church (UCC), Montrose*

Rev. Amelia Richardson Dress, Longmont*

Bishop David Nii, Community of Christ, Colorado*

Rev. Emily Easton, Pueblo

DeAnne Butterfield, Boulder Friends Meeting*

Pastor Tina Thomas, Broomfield

Michelle Warren, Christian Community Development Association, Colorado*

Rev. Jeni Hiett Umble, Living Light of Peace, Arvada*

John Hughes, Longmont Buddhist Temple*

Rev. Anne Davidson-Mundt, Denver

Rev. Ben Konecny, First Congregational Church, UCC, Greeley*

Rev. Wayne Laws, Mountain View UCC, Aurora*

Sr. Anna Koop, Sisters of Loretto, Denver*

Anthony Suggs, The Episcopal Church in Colorado*

Luke Parrott, KIVU Gap Year, Breckenridge*

Rev. Val Stepien, Eyes of Compassion Sagha, Denver*

Adrian Miller, Executive Director, Colorado Council of Churches*

Judi Von Gaia, Denver

Rev. Mike Morran, First Unitarian Society, Denver*

Rev. Annie Grogan, Montrose

Giovannina Jobson, Buddhist minister, Naropa Institute, Boulder*

Para-rabbi Dave Edwards, Congregation Ohr Shalom, Grand Junction*

Sandy Taylor, Christ Congregational Church, Pueblo*

Rabbi Deborah Ruth Bronstein, Congregation HarHashem, Boulder*

Rev. Ian Cummins, Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church, Denver*

Rev. Bill Kirton, United Methodist clergy (retired), Denver

Rev. Ann Hultquist, Augustana Lutheran Church, Denver*

Rev. Amy Petre Hill, Mountain View United Church, Aurora*

Rev. Clover Reuter Beal, Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church, Denver*

Dr. Elaine Yuen, Naropa Institute*

Jeanne Orrben, Loretto Community, Denver*

Rabbi Anat Moskowitz, Congregation B’nai Torah, Westminster*

Rev. Jeffrey Dodson, First Congregational UCC, Grand Junction*

Rev. Lee Anderson-Harris, Denver*

Monsignor Bernard Schmitz, Archdiocese of Denver*

Sr. Lydia Pena, Loretto Community, Denver*

Rev. Anne Dunlap, Denver

Rev. Dr. Tracy Hughes, Mountain View United Church, Aurora*

The Rev. Mary Ann Dimand, Mountain Sky Conference, The United Methodist Church, Denver*

Sr. Susan Kenney, Sisters of Loretto, Lakewood*

Rabbi Salomon Gruenwald, President of the Rocky Mountain Rabbinical Council*

Rev. Daniel J. Holt, Ascension Lutheran, Colorado Springs*

Christopher Watkins Lamb, UU Church of Boulder*

Rev. Dr. Lee Berg, Community UCC, Boulder*

Rev. Bonita Bock, ELCA clergy, Denver

Nathan Davis Hunt, Interfaith Alliance of Colorado*

Rev. Sally Megeath, Episcopal clergy, Denver

Fr. Bob Amundsen, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Lafayette*

Rev. Kelly Dignan, UU Church of Boulder*

Rev. Amanda Henderson, Interfaith Alliance of Colorado*

Mary M Sealing, First Congregational Church, Grand Junction*

Rev. Kirk Yamaguchi, Canyon View Vineyard Church, Grand Junction*

Rev. Patty Rumpza, Center for Spiritual Living Grand Junction*

Br. Scott Michael Pomerenk, Brotherhood of Saint Gregory*

Rev. Jacque Franklin, First Congregational UCC, Colorado Springs*

Rev. Lynn Miller-Jackson, Scott United Methodist, Denver*

Christine Armstrong, Our Lady of the Meadows, Pueblo*

Rev. Hollis Wright, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Grand Junction*

Br. Daniel Klawitter, Denver

Father Joseph Vigil, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Pueblo*

Rev. Kevin Olsen, UCC clergy (retired), Pueblo

Mary Derbort, St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Canon City*

Nancy Crafton, Los Pobres, Avondale*

Donna Young, Canon City

Rev. Robert Kippley, Evangelical Lutheran Church, Canon City

Rev. Gary R. Weaver, First Presbyterian Church, Pueblo*

Sr. Pat McCormick, Loretto Community, Denver*

Rev. Patrick Hurley, First Presbyterian Church, Pueblo*

Fr. Cyrus Gallagher, Colorado Springs

Barbara Ripperger, King of Kings Lutheran Church, Pueblo*

Rabbi Amanda Schwarz, HEA Denver*

Nancy Litwack-Strong, Temple Micah, Denver*

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*Congregation listed for identification purposes only