A Declaration to Summon The Witnesses

For centuries, our ancestors have chosen the pursuit of liberation while enduring inhumane conditions, violent intimidation, and psychological warfare. For centuries, white Christian supremacists have meddled and formshifted to run interference on our God-ordained freedom. For centuries, this country has not lived up to the faith it espouses. For centuries, Black Christians have been the moral compass and have prophetically spoken truth to power while advocating for their own freedom. For centuries, our ancestors have continuously invested to the point of death. Now, those same hard-won victories, purchased with blood, are at risk of complete and utter demolition. Today, we face the same moment our ancestors faced, generation after generation. A moment where we can heed the call or shrink back. Today, we choose to heed the call because we are not going back.

Therefore, we, the undersigned Black Christian faith leaders and followers of Jesus Christ, declare:

• We will not waste the collective sacrifices from our ancestors; we are not going back.
• We will not waste the sacrifices of Nat Turner, Gabriel Prosser, Charles Deslondes, and Denmark Vesey, whose rebellions set the stage for our emancipation. We are not going back.
• We will not waste the contributions of abolitionists Ellen Craft, Harriet Tubman, and others who did not count it robbery to use their words and life to eradicate state-sanctioned slavery. We are not going back.
• We will not waste the bravery of the freedom riders who offered their bodies as living sacrifices to break the chains of segregation. We are not going back.
• We will not waste the courage of 600 men and women who marched Edmund Pettus Bridge led by John Lewis and Hosea Williams on March 7th only to return tattered and bruised, beaten, and left for dead. We are not going back.
• We will not turn our backs on the voices of Mahalia Jackson, Marian Anderson, Sam Cooke, and Nina Simone who were committed to singing truth at the risk of harm, ostracization and death. We are not going back.
• We will not waste the sacrifices of Ella Baker, The King Family, Prathia Hall, Fannie Lou Hamer, and others who fought for Black Liberation. We are not going back.
• We will not waste the documentation of Phyllis Whitley, Maya Angelou, Ida B. Wells, Carter G. Woodson, James Baldwin, and a host of artists, writers, and historians who dedicated their lives to documenting our history. We are not going back.
• We will not turn our backs on the children yet to be born into the freedoms we have experienced in part. We are not going back.
• We will not waste the contributions of a chosen and present generation who have dedicated their lives to being a prophetic voice. We are not going back.

Therefore, we commit ourselves to:

• Proclaiming the true good news of Jesus Christ, steeped in love, justice, and liberation for all people.
• Standing against the forces of white supremacy, white Christian nationalism, and all ideologies that distort the message of Christ for political and financial gain.
• Remembering God as the one who brought his people out of Egypt so they may worship and be free.
• Speaking truth to power and advocating for policies that reflect the heart of Jesus
• Creating space for those who have experienced suppression and oppression.
• Working toward the beloved community that God envisioned. A community where justice rolls like a river and righteousness like a mighty stream.

We will rise. 

We will hold the line. 

We are not going back.

Charter Signatories Include:

Dr. Jemar Tisby |Tisby Media & Founder of The Witness, Inc

Shannon Polk, Esq. | Associate Pastor, Every Nation Church

Dr. Christina Edmondson | Co-host of Truth's Table

Timothy N. Welbeck, Esq. | Director of the Center for Anti-Racism (Temple University)

Rev. Cece Jones-Davis| Faith leader, Activist, and Artist 

Common Hymnal

Pastor Pricelis Perdreaux-Dominguez |  Associate Pastor at Renovation City Church

Joia E. Thornton | FLOOC

Rev. Dr. John Faison Sr. | Senior Pastor of Watson Grove Baptist Church

Rev. CJ Rhodes | Pastor and HBCU Chaplain

Rev. Adam Russell Taylor| President of Sojourners

Lisa Sharon Harper| Founder and President of Freedom Road

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