Redlands United Church of Christ

06/07/2026

Racial Justice reflection of the week:

The California Supreme Court unanimously reversed the death sentence of Anthony Bankston after finding that the prosecutor’s comparison of him to a dangerous animal introduced racial bias into the trial. This marks the first time a death sentence has been overturned under California’s Racial Justice Act, which allows incarcerated people to challenge convictions or sentences influenced by racial prejudice. The murder conviction remains, but the case now returns to a lower court for resentencing.

Source:

The California Supreme Court this week reversed the death sentence of a Los Angeles Bloods gang member convicted of killing a rival Crip in the early 1990s

06/01/2026

Racial Justice reflection of the week:

A ProPublica investigation reports that U.S. lawmakers are demanding reforms to immigration officers’ use of tear gas and pepper spray, after findings showed that scores of children were harmed by these chemical agents during the federal immigration crackdown. Lawmakers say the evidence demonstrates an urgent need for stronger limits and oversight on force used against migrants.

Source:

A ProPublica investigation found that scores of children were hurt by these chemicals during President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Lawmakers say the findings show more restrictions are needed.

05/25/2026

Racial Justice reflection of the week:

The NAACP is calling on Black athletes and fans to boycott the athletic programs of public universities in states that are taking steps that the nation's oldest civil rights group says are restricting Black voting rights. The "Out of Bounds" campaign urges prospective Black athletes, their families, alumni and fans to "withhold athletic and financial support" from major public universities in states that "have moved to limit, weaken or erase Black voting representation."

Source:

The NAACP is calling on Black athletes, alumni, fans and the general public to boycott the athletic programs of public universities in states that aim to redistrict longtime Black lawmakers.

05/18/2026

Racial Justice reflection of the week:

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Selma and Montgomery to protest the Supreme Court’s recent decision weakening Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which civil rights leaders warn will make it easier to dilute Black voting power. Marchers crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge, invoking the legacy of “Bloody Sunday” and framing today’s struggle as a direct continuation of the 1960s fight for voting rights. Speakers emphasized that federal protections are eroding and vowed, “we won’t go back,” calling for renewed national mobilization.

Source:

Invoking the legacy of 1965 Selma marches, protesters march for voting access and representation in 2026

05/11/2026

Racial Justice reflection of the week:

After the Supreme Court’s recent decision weakening the Voting Rights Act, Black clergy across Louisiana and beyond are mobilizing congregations to protect voting power through early voting, community organizing, and direct advocacy. Pastors describe the ruling as a setback but are urging their communities not to disengage, emphasizing accountability, turnout, and collective action. Their response highlights how faith leaders are stepping into a critical civic role as legal protections for Black voters erode.

Source:

(RNS) — 'We need accountability. We need to set goals, track registrations, follow up to ensure that those who register actually vote,' a Church of God in Christ bishop said at an 'emergency’ meeting.

05/04/2026

Racial Justice reflection of the week:

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down Louisiana’s congressional map, ruling that the state relied too heavily on race when creating a second majority‑Black district. Voting‑rights advocates warn that the decision further weakens the Voting Rights Act and could reduce Black voters’ ability to elect candidates of their choice in future elections.

Source:

The Supreme Court rule 6-3 in a decision that has implications for the scope of the landmark Voting Rights Act.

04/27/2026

Racial Justice reflection of the week:

In just the past week, courts, policymakers, and federal officials have taken concrete steps to weaken protections that address racial inequality in voting, education, and civil rights enforcement. These are not isolated decisions—they are part of a coordinated effort to dismantle the legal tools used to challenge systemic discrimination, while reframing those tools as the problem. Left unchallenged, these changes will reduce political representation, limit access to opportunity, and make inequality harder to prove and harder to remedy. This moment demands more than awareness. It requires organized response, public engagement, and sustained pressure to protect and rebuild the structures that make accountability possible.

Source:

In just the past week, courts, policymakers, and federal officials have taken concrete steps to weaken protections that address racial inequality in voting, education, and civil rights enforcement. These are not isolated decisions—they are part of a coordinated effort to dismantle the legal tools ...

04/20/2026

Racial Justice reflection of the week:

Francia Márquez, Colombia’s first Black vice-president, describes how racism inside and outside the government has undermined her ability to lead and strained her relationship with President Gustavo Petro. She recounts being excluded from key roles, targeted by racist attacks in the media and online, and obstructed in her efforts to build the new ministry of equality. Márquez says these barriers reflect a broader pattern in which Black women in high office are treated as threats rather than leaders, ultimately influencing her decision not to run for president.

Source:

Francia Márquez, the country’s first Black vice-president, opens up about the strains in her relationship with the president and the obstacles she has faced: ‘The Colombian state is a racist state’

04/16/2026

Listening for God in Short Works of Fiction One Story per week for Four weeks. Join us Wednesday, April 22, 29, and May 6 and 13 at 11:00 am in the Garden room.

04/13/2026

Racial Justice reflection of the week:

A pending Supreme Court case, Louisiana v. Callais, challenges key protections of the Voting Rights Act that help ensure Black voters can elect candidates of their choice. Advocates warn that weakening these protections would reduce Black political representation and make it far harder to prove racial discrimination in redistricting. The case is part of a broader national trend of legal and political efforts that erode long‑standing civil rights safeguards.

Source:

Louisiana v Callais could be the latest brick in a wall under construction for more than a decade, as Jim Crow is rebuilt in modern form