EVENT: B2016 0626 CLOSING CELEBRATION 0400 PM EST CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY: HEAR INK http://www.hearing.com PHONE: 314-427-1113 **********DISCLAIMER********** THE FOLLOWING IS AN UNEDITED ROUGH DRAFT TRANSLATION FROM THE CART CAPTIONER'S OUTPUT FILE. THIS TRANSCRIPT IS NOT VERBATIM AND HAS NOT BEEN PROOFREAD. TO DO SO IS AN EXTRA FEE. THIS FILE MAY CONTAIN ERRORS. PLEASE CHECK WITH THE SPEAKER(S) FOR ANY CLARIFICATION. THIS TRANSCRIPT MAY NOT BE COPIED OR DISSEMINATED TO ANYONE UNLESS YOU OBTAIN WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE OFFICE OR SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT IS PROVIDING CART CAPTIONING TO YOU; FINALLY, THIS TRANSCRIPT MAY NOT BE USED IN A COURT OF LAW. **********DISCLAIMER********** >> BLACK LIVES MATTER! BLACK LIVES MATTER! BLACK LIVES MATTER! >> I'M ELANDRIA WILLIAMS FROM KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, A PLACE WHERE THE STANDING ON THE SIDE OF LOVE CAME FROM BECAUSE OF A CHURCH SHOOTING AND A PLACE WHERE A CHURCH BURNING HAPPENED THIS WEEK. THEY ARE COMPLETELY, COMPLETELY CONNECTED. SOMEBODY IN MY CHURCH WAS SHOT AND KILLED. JAKE MORAL, WHO A LOT OF YOU KNOW, SISTER WROTE A PIECE THAT WAS REALLY BEAUTIFUL AROUND WHY THIS MATTERS AND WHY WE, AS A FAITH COMMUNITY, HAVE TO STAND WITH PEOPLE, REGARDLESS, BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO GO THROUGH THIS, JUST AS MUCH AS EVERYBODY ELSE. SO ME, AS A PERSON WHO IS BLACK IDENTIFIED, WHO IS ALSO A UU AND A PROUD ONE AT THAT, NEEDS YOU TO SUPPORT US AND EVERYBODY ELSE, BECAUSE WE DO BELIEVE IN THE INHERENT WORTH AND DIGNITY OF EVERY PERSON, WHICH MEANS WE BELIEVE THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER, THAT OUR CHILDREN MATTER, THAT OUR FAMILIES MATTER, AND THAT ALL OF US, BLACK PEOPLE'S BODIES ARE SOVEREIGN, JUST LIKE ALL OF US WHEN OUR BODIES SHOULD BE AS WELL. SO IF YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO STAND WITH ALL OF US, INCLUDING THE PEOPLE IN THIS HALL WHO NEED YOU, PLEASE VOTE FOR THIS AMENDMENT. VOTE FOR THIS ACTION AND TAKE ACTION TODAY AT 4:30 OUT IN FRONT OF THIS PLACE, BECAUSE IN PORTLAND RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE ON A DECREE, BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING SHOOTING HERE, TOO. SO STAY ON THE PEOPLE OF PORTLAND AND STAY ON THE PEOPLE IN MISSISSIPPI. [APPLAUSE] BLACK LIVES MATTER! BLACK LIVES MATTER! BLACK LIVES MATTER! BLACK LIVES MATTER! BLACK LIVES MATTER! BLACK LIVES MATTER! BLACK LIVES MATTER! BLACK LIVES MATTER! BLACK LIVES MATTER! BLACK LIVES MATTER! BLACK LIVES MATTER! BLACK LIVES MATTER! BLACK LIVES MATTER! BLACK LIVES MATTER! BLACK LIVES MATTER! BLACK LIVES, THEY MATTER. BLACK LIVES, THEY MATTER. BLACK LIVES, THEY MATTER. BLACK LIVES, THEY MATTER HERE. BLACK LIVES, THEY MATTER HERE. BLACK LIVES, THEY MATTER HERE. BLACK LIVES, THEY MATTER HERE. BLACK LIVES, THEY MATTER HERE. BLACK LIVES, THEY MATTER HERE. BLACK LIVES, THEY MATTER HERE. BLACK LIVES, THEY MATTER HERE. BLACK LIVES, THEY MATTER HERE. BLACK LIVES, THEY MATTER HERE. BLACK LIVES, THEY MATTER HERE. BLACK LIVES, THEY MATTER HERE. BLACK LIVES, THEY MATTER HERE. BLACK LIVES, THEY MATTER HERE. BLACK LIVES, THEY MATTER HERE. [APPLAUSE] GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. WE ARE HONORED TO BE HERE WITH YOU AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT TAMIR RICE WOULD HAVE BEEN 14 TODAY. AND I IMAGINE WHAT HIS MOTHER IS WRESTLING WITH NOW. BUT I COME FROM A TRADITION THAT EVEN IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLE AND TRIBULATION, WE STILL SAY HALLELUJAH. AND SO WILL YOU JUST, AS WE GO INTO THIS OTHER SONG, BUT WILL YOU JUST SAY THIS WITH US? HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH. CAN YOU SAY THAT? HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH. AND IN MY TRADITION, WE CAN DO NOTHING ELSE, WE JUST RAISE OUR HANDS. HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH. SAY IT ONE MORE TIME, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH. AND IF YOU ARE ABLE, WHY DON'T YOU STAND. HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH. ONE MORE TIME. HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH. NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE ON LIFE'S JOURNEY OR WHERE OR WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL THIS PLACE HOME NO MATTER WHERE YOU BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE CAN YOU SAY THAT WITH US? NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE ON LIFE'S JOURNEY. OR WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM. OH WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM. YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL. YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL THIS PLACE HOME. NO MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. COME ON, SAY THAT WITH US. NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE. >> NEW ORLEANS MATTER WHERE YOU ARE ON LIFE'S JOURNEY. OR WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM. YOU CAN ALWAYS CALL THIS PLACE HOME. NO MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. SAY IT ONE MORE TIME. NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE ON LIFE'S JOURNEY. NO MATTER WHERE YOU BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN. NO MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. SING IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT. NO MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU'VE BEEN OR WHAT YOU'VE DONE. [APPLAUSE] I AM DR. JOHN GILMORE, A MINISTER, RETIRED MINISTER, STILL DOING WORK IN SOCIAL JUSTICE. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU HERE TONIGHT. >> HI, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS ASHLEY FLOYD AND I'M FROM CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. [APPLAUSE] >> AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL TODAY. THANK YOU. >> I'M ISIS JAMES-CARNES FROM NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT, AND I'M ALSO VERY HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU GUYS TODAY. [APPLAUSE] WE ARE ALL UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS. >> WE LIGHT OUR CHALICE TODAY IN CELEBRATION OF OUR JOURNEY TOGETHER THIS PAST WEEK, OF OUR ABILITY TO HARNESS LOVE'S POWER TO END OPPRESSION AND OF THE ROAD THAT LIES BEFORE US. MAY THE FLAME WE LIGHT NOW REMIND US OF THE POWER, BEAUTY, AND FRAGILITY OF OUR LIVES AND THE ONGOING STRUGGLE TOWARDS FREEDOM FOR ALL. >> ELLA'S SONG WAS COMPOSED BY BERNICE JOHNSON REAFON, THE FOUNDER OF THE BLACK WOMAN'S VOCAL ENSEMBLE SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK. IT IS NAMED AFTER ELLA BAKER, A HIGHLY REVERED ADULT ADVISER OF THE STUDENT NON‑VIOLENT COORDINATING COMMITTEE, ALSO KNOWN AS SNCC. SHE SAID, REMEMBER, WE ARE NOT FIGHTING FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE NEGRO ALONE, BUT FOR THE FREEDOM OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT, LARGER FREEDOM THAT ENCOMPASSES ALL MANKIND. SHE ALSO SAID UNTIL THE KILLING OF BLACK MEN, BLACK MOTHER'S SONS, BECOMES AS IMPORTANT AS THE KILLING OF WHITE MOTHER'S SONS, WE WHO BELIEVE IN FREEDOM CANNOT REST UNTIL THIS HAPPENS. [APPLAUSE] >> [SINGING] WE WHO BELIEVE IN FREEDOM CANNOT REST [APPLAUSE] >> WILL YOU JUST REPEAT AFTER ME? I CAN HEAR MY NEIGHBOR CRYING. >> I CAN HEAR MY NEIGHBOR CRYING. SAYING I CAN'T BREATHE. >> SAYING I CAN'T BREATHE. AND NOW I'M IN THE STRUGGLE. >> AND NOW I'M IN THE STRUGGLE. SAYING I CAN'T LEAVE. >> SAYING I CAN'T LEAVE. WE'RE CALLING OUT THE VIOLENCE. >> WE'RE CALLING OUT THE VIOLENCE. OF THE RACIST POLICE. >> OF THE RACIST POLICE. AND WE AIN'T GONNA STOP. >> AND WE AIN'T GONNA STOP. UNTIL THE PEOPLE ARE FREE. >> UNTIL THE PEOPLE ARE FREE. >> CHOIR, WILL YOU HELP ME OUT? [SINGING] >> GOOD AFTERNOON, GA. I'M SO HONORED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY, BUT I HAVE A CONFESSION TO MAKE. I WAS ALL SET TO DELIVER AN ADDRESS I WROTE OVER A MONTH AGO, THOSE GA DEADLINES ARE VERY, VERY REAL. BUT I WOKE UP LIKE WE SANG ABOUT IN WORSHIP THIS MORNING WITH FREEDOM ON MY MIND AND A NEW MESSAGE IN MY HEART. SO MY FRIENDS, CAN I SHARE IT WITH YOU THIS MORNING? >> YES. >> THIS WEEK WAS MY FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY EXPERIENCE, AND IT'S BEEN TRULY AMAZING. IT'S BEEN A WEEK OF JOY AND PAIN, OF CONNECTION AND SEPARATION, OF NEW FACES AND OLD FRIENDS. GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2016 FOR ME, LIKE LIFE, HAS BEEN A LESSON IN CONTRADICTIONS. THIS ACTUALLY MAKES PERFECT SENSE, BECAUSE OUR FAITH IS A LESSON IN CONTRADICTIONS. WE SEE CONTRADICTIONS IN THE WAVE OF BLACK LIVES MATTER MATTERS BEING NONE OR HUNG IN OUR CONGREGATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND YET IN TRUTH, MANY BLACK UU'S FEEL UNWELCOME IN OUR PEWS. WE SEE CONTRADICTION IN THE HISTORIC BLACK LIVES OF UU COLLECTION YESTERDAY IN THIS WHOLE HALL PROCLAIMING BLACK LIVES MATTER, AND YET THIS BODY DELIVERED A NO VOTE FOR DIVESTMENT THIS WEEK. WE SEE THIS IN A GA PLANNING COMMITTEE WHO WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORTED OUR REQUEST FOR EXPLICITLY BLACK HEALING SPACE, AND YET THE NEED FOR THAT SPACE EXISTED ALL AMONG IS IT OUR PEOPLE. MY FRIENDS, THERE'S A DISCONNECT. I SAID THERE IS A DISCONNECT. AND WE NEED TO GET IT TOGETHER. WE MUST BE TRANSFORMED. THERE'S A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE WORK WE WANT TO DO AND THE WAY WE GO ABOUT DOING IT. BETWEEN OUR PRINCIPLES AND OUR ACTIONS, BETWEEN OUR WORDS AND OUR DEEDS, AND WE REALLY NEED TO GET IT TOGETHER. WE MUST BE TRANSFORMED. OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, SO MANY WHITE UU'S HAVE COME UP TO ME AND SAID, LESLIE MAC, HOW CAN WE SHOW UP FOR BLACK LIVES? MY RESPONSE IS ALWAYS THE SAME. I SAY, WELL, IT'S REALLY SIMPLE. I JUST SHOW UP AND THEN YOU SHOW UP AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN AND YOU KEEP DOING IT UNTIL IT BECOMES A HABIT FOR YOU IN YOUR LIFE. [APPLAUSE] UNTIL THE EFFECTS OF YOUR WORDS AND ACTIONS ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR BECOME SOMETHING YOU THINK ABOUT BEFORE YOU SAY AND DO THEM AND NOT AFTER. UNTIL AND INCLUDING BLACK VOICES IN YOUR SEARCH FOR TRUTH BECOME AS COMFORTABLE AS THE WHITE VOICES THAT YOU'RE USED TO. UNTIL THE SPIRITUAL LIVES OF BLACK PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITIES ARE CONSIDERED IN EVERY SINGLE DECISION YOU MAKE AS A CONGREGATION. THIS BRINGS US TO THE QUESTION THAT LOOMS LARGE FOR US AS A PEOPLE OF FAITH. IN THE FACE OF A GLOBAL MOVEMENT DEMANDING ACTION TOWARD BLACK LIBERATION, HOW CAN WE BE TRANSFORMED? HOW CAN OUR FAITH BE TRANSFORMED? THIS WORK TOWARDS COLLECTIVE LIBERATION IS MORE THAN JUST ABOUT OUTCOMES. HOW WE DO THIS WORK IS ALSO HOW WE CREATE THE WORLD THAT WE WANT TO SEE. THE SECOND PRINCIPLE OF BLACK LIVES SAYS LOVE AND SELF‑LOVE IS PRACTICED IN EVERY ELEMENT OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. LOVE MUST BE THE DRIVER OF OUR WORK AND MAKER OF ITS SUCCESSES. WITHOUT THIS PRINCE AND SELL WITHOUT ITS HEALING, WE WILL HARM EACH OTHER AND UNDERMINE THE MOVEMENT WE ARE BUILDING TOGETHER. SO WE CAN NO LONGER CAUSE EMOTIONAL HARM TO PEOPLE OF COLOR AS WE DID AT LAST YEAR'S BLACK LIVES MATTER AIW IN THE ASSEMBLY HALL AND THEN RETURN TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY 12 MONTHS LATER TO CLAIM THAT ACTION AS VICTORY. WE CAN NO LONGER DO THINGS THE WAY THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN DONE AND THEN ASK WHY CHANGE IS TAKING SHOWING. [APPLAUSE] QUITE FRANKLY, MY FRIENDS, WE CAN NO LONGER FAIL TO TAKE COLLECTIVE ACTION AS A FAITH AND STILL CALL OURSELVES A MOVEMENT AT ALL. [APPLAUSE] IF WE, AS A FAITH, ARE TRULY COMMITTED TO TRANSFORMATION, THEN I SAY TO YOU, CHANGE MUST COME TO UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM. [APPLAUSE] THE WAY WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE THINGS MUST CHANGE. THE WAY WE SEEK CONNECTION MUST CHANGE. THE WAY WE MOVE IN THE WORLD MUST CHANGE. THE WAY WE WORSHIP MUST CHANGE. THE WAY WE BREATHE MUST CHANGE. SO I ASK YOU TODAY IF YOU ARE PERSONALLY COMMITTED TO BLACK LIBERATION, DO YOU CONSISTENTLY LIVE THAT OUT? IF YOUR CONGREGATION IS COMMITTED TO BLACK LIBERATION, DOES IT CONSISTENTLY MAKE DECISIONS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THAT COMMITMENT? AND IF OUR FAITH IS TRULY COMMITTED FOR BLACK LIBERATION, ARE WE FINALLY READY TO CONSISTENTLY CHALLENGE THE LONG HELD SYSTEMIC PRACTICES THAT DO NOT LIVE UP TO THAT COMMITMENT? ONLY WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS WITH A DEFINITIVE YES WILL WE TRULY BE COLLECTIVELY TRANSFORMED INTO THE FAITH THAT WE CLAIM TO BE AND TO A FAITH THAT WE STRIVE TO BE AND TO A FAITH THAT LIVES UP TO OUR PRINCIPLED BELIEF IN THE DIGNITY AND WORTH OF ALL PEOPLE. LET US MAKE THAT COMMITMENT TO BE CONSISTENT IN OUR LIVES, IN OUR CONGREGATIONS, AND IN OUR FAITH TO SAY UNAPOLOGETICALLY WITH ACTIONS AND NOT JUST WORDS THAT BLACK LIVES, THEY MATTER HERE. THANK YOU, AND BLESSED BE. [APPLAUSE] >> ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL WAYS THE CHURCH OFFERS US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ONE WITH ANOTHER IS THROUGH THE POWER OF MUSIC. DAVID FRAZIER ROAD A SONG HE CALLS I NEED YOU TO SURVIVE. AND I'D LIKE TO SAY AS WE EVERY DEFER TO BE A COMMUNITY STANDING TOGETHER, AFFIRMING THE WORTH AND DIGNITY OF BLACK LIVES, WE MUST ENTER THE SONGS OF BLACK LIVES WITH HEW MILT, CURIOSITY, AND FIRST WE MUST ENDEAVOR CONSCIOUSLY TO RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO COLONIZE IT WITH THE CHANGES ‑‑ [APPLAUSE] WITH THE CHANGES THAT MAKE US MORE COMFORTABLE INSIDE OF IT. IF WE CAN BE PRESENT TO BLACK FAITH AND BLACK FADES, THEN IN SOLIDARITY, WE MIGHT ENTER INTO THE BLESSED RELATIONSHIP THAT ALLOWS US TO DESERVE TO BE CALLED ALLIES. IN THIS SENSE, SING THIS SONG WITH ME WITH CURIOSITY, WITH HUMILITY, AND WITH JOY AND FAITH. >> I NEED YOU, YOU NEED ME [SINGING] SAY AMEN. >> AMEN. >> YOU CAN COME UP HERE IF YOU WANT. SO ALL RIGHT. SO I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A HARD WEEK. ON LOTS OF LOTS OF LEVELS. BUT WHAT HELPS WAS WHAT HAPPENED RIGHT BEFORE WE CLOSED BUSINESS AND WE CAME BACK TO WORSHIP. MY FIRST GA WAS 20 YEARS AGO. I WAS 16 YEARS OLD AND I CAME FROM AN AMAZING CHURCH. IT WAS A LITTLE CHURCHED CALLED TENNESSEE VALLEY. WE'RE KIND OF INCREDIBLE, Y'ALL. THERE'S SO MANY MINISTERS AND OUTREACH ALL OVER THE PLACE. AND MY CONGREGATION ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT I WAS AMAZING, POWER OF, BOTH THAT ONE AND MOUNT ZION CHURCH. BECAUSE WITHOUT GOING TO SOME BLACK CHURCH, YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW WHERE YOU COME FROM. IT HAS A BLACK PERSON. THAT'S FOR ME. SO I NEEDED BOTH, AND I GOT BOTH. BUT MY CHURCH ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT I WAS LOVED. AND THEN I CAME TO MY FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND I WAS LIKE, OH, SNAP. I WALK IN THE ROOM AND THESE TWO GIRLS ARE LIKE, GUESS WHAT? WHAT? OH, WHAT? >> THEY'RE LIKE, WE GOT SOME FOLK, BECAUSE IT'S INDIANAPOLIS, SO IT'S THE BIG UGA. IT WAS REAL SMART BACK THEN. 600 BACK THEN WITH NO ADULTS. IT WAS REAL SMALL. WE HAD A GOOD TIME, THOUGH. WE TOOK OVER THE STAGE. SO WE WERE PRETTY FAR OUT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. BUT WHAT I REMEMBER IS THE SHEER AMOUNT. THE FIRST THING I ENCOUNTER WAS TWO WHITE BOYS THAT DECIDED TO CALL THEMSELVES KAREEM AND ABDUL AND DECIDED TO DRESS AND ACT LIKE THEY WERE BLACK. WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS BLACK. THAT WAS MY FIRST HE KNOW THE COUNTER AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY. AND I WENT, WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED ON A BAD FOOT. AND IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE. AND IF IT WASN'T FOR KRISTEN HARPER AND JOSEPH SANTOS LYONS, WHO CALLED US INTO A YOUTH COLOR SPACE, I WOULD NEVER BE BACK. AND THEN JOSEPH CALLED ME BACK IN AGAIN. SO I'M GOING TO STAND UP HERE AND SAY MY PIECE, BUT I ALSO CAN'T STAND HERE WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THE LEGACY FROM WHICH I COME FROM. SO I'M STARING AT MEL HOOVER OVER THERE AND MISS MAMA FIELD OVER HERE AND JANICE AND SO MANY MORE. WE COULD GO ON FOR DAYS. THE PEOPLE I MET WHEN I WAS 14 OR 15 WHO CHANGED MY LIFE IN MORE WAYS THAN I KNOW HOW TO COUNT. AND THEY TAUGHT ME WHAT IT TRULY MEANT TO BE WITH WHAT PEOPLE. NOT AT HOME, BECAUSE AT HOME, WHITE PEOPLE WERE ON A GOOD FOOT. THEY WERE JUST REAL. THEY DON'T SAY STUPID STUFF. THEY AIN'T DOING IT, BECAUSE WE HAVE CONFEDERATE FLAGS AT MY HIGH SCHOOL, SO I DIDN'T COME FROM A PRETTY HAPPY CUTE PLACE. THEY WERE VERY CLEAR IN TENNESSEE WHAT THEY LIKED AND DIDN'T LIKE. SO ALL THE LIBERAL NICETIES, IT WAS GLARINGLY OBVIOUS. AND SO THOSE FOLKS WERE LIKE, THEY WENT THROUGH THE WORK. WE DID JOURNEY TO WHOLENESS. WE DID TRANSFORMATION TEAMS. I WAS THE YOUNGEST PERSON ON THE TRANSFORMATION TEAMS IN 20 YEARS. AND THEN I GOT CALLED BACK TO DO WORK WITH CONCENTRIC AND OPEN YOUNG ADULTS WHERE I MET MR. MATT HERE AND DID THAT WORK AND THEY FED MY LIFE AND MY SOUL. AND THEN THIS THING HAPPENED. IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS. WE DON'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT, BUT I'VE DECIDED I DON'T CARE ANYMORE. BECAUSE ONE DAY, YOU GET TO TELL YOUR TRUTH. EVEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO HIDE IT. SOMEDAY YOU GET TO BE UP HERE AT THE MIC AND TELL YOUR TRUTH. SO I WATCHED MY YOUNG PEOPLE AND I CALL THEM MINE, BECAUSE DAMN‑IT, THEY'RE MINE. BEING A CHURCH THAT LOCKS ITS DOORS ON THEM. BEING A CHURCH THAT CALLED THE POLICE ON THEM. BE IN A CHURCH THAT WHEN THE SHOWER BROKE SAID, GO OUTSIDE AND BATHE YOURSELF WITH A WATER HOSE. SO WHEN PEOPLE GO, I DON'T UNDERSTAND, IT'S LIKE, FOR REAL? WHY DON'T YOU GET IT? Y'ALL DID IT. SO THEN WE COME TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND I TELL SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE IN THE HIGHEST LEADERSHIP POSITIONS THERE ARE, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED. AND THEY SAID, OH, AND DIDN'T LISTEN. AND THEN, OF COURSE, BECAUSE IT'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY, MORE AND MORE STUFF HAPPENED UNTIL THERE'S A BLOWUP OVER TIME. AND THEN WHAT DO WE CALL? A NAMETAG COMMISSION. AND SO ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS WHO WASN'T EVEN HERE GOT PUT ON A THING THAT I CALL THE NAMETAG COMMISSION, BECAUSE EXCEPT FOR US SAYING WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED, WE SAID, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'D JUST HAD YOUR NAMETAG ON, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN ALL RIGHT. AND DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT WHY PEOPLE COME IN WITH NO NAMETAG, BUT JUST, OH, THE NAME TAG COMMISSION. AND SO IN 1996 WHEN CRAZY STUFF WE WANT DOWN, WE DIDN'T GET TO COME ON STAGE. IN 2005, WAS IT, WHEN THAT WE WANT DOWN? NOBODY WAS ALLOWED TO COME ON STAGE. WHEN GROUNDWORK WAS DE‑FUNDED, AND SO NOW WE HAVE NO YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT ANTI‑RACISM WORK HAPPENING IN A REALLY LARGE WAY, ESPECIALLY WHITE PEOPLE, WHICH IS WHY YOU HAVE SOME OF THE MOST AMAZING MINISTERS AND DRE'S AND ORGANIZERS IN THIS COUNTRY BY FAR. NO ONE STOOD UP. NOW HERE WE ARE IN 2016, AND SO SOMEONE ASKED, IS CHANGE POSSIBLE? TEN YEARS AGO I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU ME AND BILL SINKFORD WOULD NOT HAVE STOOD ON THIS STAGE RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER FIGHTING FOR BLACK LIVES MATTER, BECAUSE I'M JUST GOING TO BE REAL RIGHT NOW. BUT I STAND WITH THAT MAN JUST A MINUTE AGO TO SAY WHERE ARE WE NOW? WHERE ARE WE NOW? THAT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED TEN YEARS AGO. WHAT I JUST SAW WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED TEN YEARS AGO. SOME OF IT IS BECAUSE OF RELATIONSHIPS, BECAUSE I MET JIM KEY A LONG TIME AGO. WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS IT ALL JUST CAN'T BE ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS. WE HAVE SPENT A LOT OF OUR TIME HERE TALKING ABOUT WE HAVE TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND WE HAVE TO GO PAST DIVISIONS AND WE NEED TO UNIFY, WHICH IS NICE, EXCEPT FOR ONE PROBLEM. THAT DOESN'T ACTUALLY DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. [APPLAUSE] DO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? UNIFICATION IS NOT MY PROBLEM. I NEED MY TWIN TO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PAYING BILLS. YOU HEAR WHAT I'M SAYING? PAYING BILLS. I NEED MY FRIENDS TO NOT BE SHOT AT AND LOCKED UP. I NEED POLICE TO NOT SEXUALLY HARASS ME. RIGHT? I NEED MY FOLKS IN WEST VIRGINIA TO NOT HAVE DIED TWO DAYS AGO BECAUSE OF FLOODING, BECAUSE THE U.S. GOVERNMENT DOES NOT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA. SANDY GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF MONEY, BECAUSE IT'S NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY. SOUTH IN IRRELEVANT. SOUTH? IRRELEVANT. SO WHAT I'M SAYING TO US IS THAT WE BOTH HAVE TO SIT HERE AND SAY, HOW DO WE STAND TOGETHER AND UNIFY AND HOW DO WE USE OUR LEVERAGE, OUR MONEY, OUR TIME, OUR RESOURCES, OUR POSITIONALITY TO SHIFT THIS WORK? CAN YOU DO THAT WITH ME? [APPLAUSE] SHIFT THIS WORLD. SO HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. AND I THINK MY TIME IS UP. WHO REMEMBERS? THERE'S A CHANT THAT WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE WITH, BECAUSE I LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO DOING JUVENILE INCARCERATION WORK, JUVENILE JUSTICE WORK. I ALSO WANT TO OFFER THIS ONE WISH. THE NEXT TIME WE DO AN OFFER, PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU'RE GIVING THE MONEY TO. ARE YOU GIVING IT TO A RADICAL ORGANIZING GROUP THAT CAN'T GET PAID THAT IS LED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR AND MOST DIRECTLY AFRICAN COMMUNITIES? ARE WE GIVING IT TO SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE RUN BY WHITE PEOPLE THAT CAN GIVE MONEY ANY TIME THEY WANT? WHO ARE REPUTING OUR DOLLARS BEHIND? I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR WORDS. I CARE ABOUT YOUR MONEY AT THE END OF THE DAY. ARE WE INVESTING IN BLACK INFRASTRUCTURE? WE USED TO DO THAT. ARE WE DOING THAT NOW? SO STABBED AS YOU ARE WILLING AND ABLE, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO DO A CHANT, AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO GO. SO I FEED YOU TO STAND UP IF YOU CAN. I KNOW IT'S HARD. SO HERE WE GO. WE'RE GOING TO GO LOW, THEN HIGH. YOU WAITING TO. IT IS OUR DUTY TO FIGHT FOR OUR FREE. IT IS OUR DUTY TO FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM. IT IS OUR DUTY TO WIN. >> IT IS OUR DUTY TO WIN. >> WE MUST LOVE AND PROTECT ONE ANOTHER. WE MUST LOVE AND PROTECT ONE ANOTHER. >> WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT OUR CHAINS. >> IT IS OUR DUTY TO FIGHT FOR OUR FREE FREEDOM. >> IT IS OUR DUTY TO FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM. >> IT IS OUR DUTY TO WIN. >> IT IS OUR DUTY TO WIN. >> WE MUST LOVE AND RESPECT ONE ANOTHER. >> WE MUST LOVE AND RESPECT ONE ANOTHER. WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT OUR CHAINS. >> WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT OUR CHAINS. >> NOW I NEED YOU TO THINK ABOUT TAMIR RICE, MARTEZ AND THE 22 YOUNG CHILDREN I LOSE EVERY YEAR. I ALMOST COMMITTED SUICIDE TWICE THIS YEAR, BECAUSE I AM TIRED. TIRED. AND I CRY ALMOST EVERY DAMN DAY, BECAUSE I AM GOING THROUGH ACTUAL PEOPLE PROBLEMS IN THE PLACES WHERE I WORK, SO I NEED YOU TO GO THROUGH ACTUAL PEOPLE PROBLEMS IN YOUR COMMUNITIES WITH ME, BECAUSE OTHERWISE, WE AIN'T GONNA WIN. YOU CANNOT BE LIBERATED, AS IT IS TATTOOED ON MY WRIST, IF WE DON'T DO IT TOGETHER. ONE MORE TIME, BECAUSE I NEED YOU TO BE MY CHURCH. DON'T TELL ME ANYMORE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THIS IS MY CHURCH, MINE! NOT WHEN I WAS 25. NOT AS A MINISTER. THERE ARE A FEW OF YOU WHO WERE BORN AND RAISED THERE. SO I NEED YOU TO HOLD, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, BECAUSE IT AIN'T JUST YOURS. IT IS MINE. SO IF YOU CAN'T SEE MY FAITH, THEN GUESS WHAT? YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO FIND ANOTHER ONE, BECAUSE IT'S FINE. SO I WANT IT TO BE ALL OF OUR FAITH, SO THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE A PERSON OF COLOR, DON'T YOU SAY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. SAY THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING ME IN, BECAUSE WE WELCOMED YOU IN. I AM TIRED, SO I'M SAYING THIS, BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO ACTUALLY DEAL, THEY'RE BORN AND RAISED UU'S. WE THROW THEM BY THE WAYSIDE. I WANT FOLKS EVERY SINGLE DAY WHO ARE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST AND THEY DON'T COUNT. WE'VE GOT PEOPLE RUNNING THE BEST ORGANIZING GROUPS IN THE COUNTRY. BEST IN THE COUNTRY. YOU SEE WHITE YOUNG PEOPLE? I GUARANTEE YOU, THEY'RE U UUA AND THEY'RE NOT HERE, SO YOU DON'T NEED SPEAKERS THAT ARE U UUA IF YOU DON'T KNOW THEM, ASK SOMEBODY ELSE. THEY ARE DOING AMAZING, POWERFUL MOVEMENT WORK THAT COULD TRANSFORM OUR SOULS, OUR HEARTS, OUR MINDS, AND OUR SPIRIT BY ANYTHING POSSIBLE. SO PLEASE, WORK WITH ME, BECAUSE THIS IS MY FAITH AND YES, I'M FROM THE SOUTH. I JUST GOT TO HOLD THAT ON AND WE'LL BE ALL RIGHT. SO HERE WE GO. ONE MORE TIME. AND WE'RE GOING TO SAY IT SO LOUD, SO, SO, SO VERY LOUD THAT OUR ANCESTORS CAN HEAR US, THAT THE GENERATIONS THAT COME AFTER US CAN HEAR US. ARE YOU READY? AND I WANT TO SAY THIS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A MINISTER TO BE A PREACHER. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A MINISTER TO DO FAITH WORK. WE DON'T NEED EVERYBODY GOING TO MINISTRY SCHOOL. DO THE WORK. GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND DO THAT IT WORK. SO I'M TIRED. DON'T ASK ME ANYMORE IF I'M GOING TO BECOME A MINISTER. I AM ONE. ARE WE READY? ONE MORE TIME. IT IS OUR DUTY TO FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM. >> IT IS OUR DUTY TO FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM. >> IT IS OUR DUTY TO WIN. >> IT IS OUR DUTY TO WIN. >> WE MUST LOVE AND PROTECT ONE ANOTHER. >> WE MUST LOVE AND PROTECT ONE ANOTHER. >> WE HAVE NOTHING. >> WE HAVE NOTHING. >> WE HAVE NOTHING. >> WE HAVE NOTHING. >> WE HAVE NOTHING. >> WE HAVE NOTHING. >> TO LOSE. >> TO LOSE. >> TO LOSE. >> TO LOSE. >> BUT OUR CHAINS. >> BUT OUR CHAINS. >> THE LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS CHAIR FOR GA 2017. ON BEHALF OF THE LAY PEOPLE AND THE CLERGY OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, I WILL EXTINGUISH THIS CHALICE, GRATEFUL FOR OUR TIME TOGETHER AND THE STRUGGLE THAT CONTINUES, IN GREAT ANTICIPATION, IN GREAT ANTICIPATION FOR OUR GATHERING NEXT YEAR. MAY WE GO IN PEACE, ASSURED THAT LOVE SURROUNDS US EVERYWHERE WE MAY GO. [APPLAUSE] >> YOU ALL READY TO GET OUT OF HERE? SOMEBODY TOLD ME I'M A PENTECOSTAL, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW YOU UNITARIANS HAD SO MUCH FIRE. PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER. COME ON. >> [SINGING] [APPLAUSE] >> YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. THANK YOU. GOD BLESS YOU. MY NAME IS REVEREND SEKOU. THIS IS THE HOLY GHOST. >> TAKE THE WORK BACK TO YOUR WHOLE LIVES. >> YOU CAN GET CDS OF OURS IN THE BACK. GOD BLESS YOU. WE LOVE YOU, UUA. [CLOSING CELEBRATION CONCLUDES] EVENT: B2016 0626 CLOSING CELEBRATION 0400 PM EST CAPTIONS PROVIDED BY: HEAR INK http://www.hearing.com PHONE: 314 427 1113 **********DISCLAIMER********** THE FOLLOWING IS AN UNEDITED ROUGH DRAFT TRANSLATION FROM THE CART CAPTIONER'S OUTPUT FILE. THIS TRANSCRIPT IS NOT VERBATIM AND HAS NOT BEEN PROOFREAD. TO DO SO IS AN EXTRA FEE. THIS FILE MAY CONTAIN ERRORS. PLEASE CHECK WITH THE SPEAKER(S) FOR ANY CLARIFICATION. 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