The Kansas City Atheist Coalition stands by a position of equality for all people, regardless of the color of their skin, and a government that serves all people equally, again regardless of the color of their skin.
We hope we can all unite in sympathy for the pain and loss felt by Michael Brown’s family and an understanding of the underpinnings of the anger and passion behind many of the movements in action, both within and outside of Ferguson.
As stories emerge from across the country of gatherings, rallies, discussions, and plans of action on how to solve the problems that overwhelmingly affect people of color, it is easy to be caught up in the stories of those who seize the opportunity to inflict violence upon innocent bystanders. We do not condone theft and vandalism, but we must also bear in mind that, while loss of property is not to be trivialized, human life and dignity must be a higher priority in our minds. We as a society cannot ignore the multitude of factors, both historic and present, that have led so many to action nor can we let the actions of a few distract us from what is truly important.
Let us focus first on addressing and resolving these underpinnings. For some, this is an opportunity to listen to the experiences and knowledge of those who have dealt with these issues on a daily basis for the entirety of their lives; for others, it is an opportunity to rise up as leaders in a movement that would seek to end violence and discrimination against people based on the color of their skin.
The Kansas City Atheist Coalition wishes that everyone stay safe as the movement surrounding Ferguson grows, evolves, and progresses toward a goal of equal treatment and protection for all people.
