SAN DIEGO – The ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties (ACLU SDIC) will join with Pilgrim United Church of Christ on Sunday to present “White Perspectives on Understanding and Ending White Privilege,” a panel discussion on race and reconciliation featuring the Reverend Robert Wright Lee IV, the great-great-great-great-nephew of Confederate Army General Robert E. Lee. This event is free to the public.
An outspoken advocate for the removal of monuments to the Confederacy, Lee gained national attention when he used the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards as a platform to denounce his relative’s supremacist legacy. Said Lee, “I’m a descendant of Robert E. Lee, the Civil War general whose statue was at the center of violence in Charlottesville. We have made my ancestor an idol of white supremacy, racism, and hate. As a pastor, it is my moral duty to speak out against racism, America’s original sin. Today, I call on all of us with privilege and power to answer God’s call to confront racism and white supremacy head-on.” Shortly thereafter, Lee resigned as pastor of Bethany United Church of Christ in Winston-Salem, N.C. after some in the congregation objected to his comments and moved to vote on ending his tenure.
Pilgrim UCC Pastor and ACLU SDIC board member, Madison Shockley will moderate Sunday’s panel discussion. Joining Lee as a panelist will be ACLU SDIC board member Carl Crider, an Arkansas native and retired United Methodist minister. ACLU SDIC Executive Director Norma Chavez-Peterson will give brief opening remarks.
Lee will be available for phone interviews Friday and Saturday. All panelists will be available for interviews following the forum.
What: ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties and Pilgrim United Church of Christ Forum “White Perspectives on Understanding and Ending White Privilege” with special guest, the Reverend Robert Wright Lee, IV (descendant of Confederate General Robert E. Lee) and ACLU SDIC board member, the Reverend Carl Crider (ret). Moderated by the Reverend Madison Shockley, pastor of Pilgrim United Church of Christ and ACLU SDIC board member.
Where: Pilgrim United Church of Christ | 2020 Chestnut Ave, Carlsbad CA Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017
When: 12pm – 1:30pm
RSVP on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1498069766955592
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