The Racial Justice Ministry of the First Unitarian Universalist Society in Newton invites the public to Reckoning with Our Racist Past — a presentation by Rev. Kevin Peterson, founder of the New Democracy Coalition and the Faneuil Hall Race + Reconciliation Project. Please join us on Sunday, March 26, 11:45AM-1PM in FUUSN’s Children’s Chapel, Parish Hall, 1326 Washington Street, West Newton. You are also welcome to our Sunday service, Music Sunday, beginning at 10:15AM, followed by coffee hour as we transition to the Children’s Chapel. For more information, email Jean Smith at jeanlsmith@rcn.com.
From the website of the New Democracy Coalition: Faneuil Hall Race + Reconciliation Project:
Addressing what our public monuments and public buildings mean to us is important. Symbols matter. Faneuil Hall, in Boston’s government center, is historic in many positive ways. It predates the founding of the nation and is widely recognized as the “cradle of liberty.” Yet, Faneuil Hall is named after a person (Peter Faneuil) who committed himself to the idea of white supremacy. Should Faneuil Hall, which is named after the slave owner and slave trader Peter Faneuil, retain its name? We say no. Our work on changing the name of Faneuil Hall is grounded in our corporate quest for racial repair. Our annual hunger fasting at Faneuil Hall is designed to educate the public that Peter Faneuil, as one of the city’s original founding fathers, was a profound racist who contributed nothing to the idea of democracy. Changing the name of Faneuil Hall stands as a pathway of addressing the wounds of race and slavery in the city. We claim that we must shake off our moral fogginess and address the issue of racial change for our collective and better future. Change the name.
