Racial Justice

We need to end slavery for good. “For good” has two meanings — first, the end, goodbye, and good riddance. The second is good in mind: good values, practices, reasons, and outcomes. What is good about the movement to end slavery?

Bystanders play an important part in stopping harassment and bullying in both the workplace and social environments. The helpless feeling we experience when we witness or are the recipient of harassing behavior is real, and we have many unhealthy defenses we use to “get out” of the situation.

All Staff will be attending bystander training on May 18 as part of a series of activities for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPIs) month. This training is part of our advocacy to raise awareness of hate crimes against AAPIs.

Download Bystander Intervention Handbook and learn how you can stop hate in our community.

Did you know that slavery is still legal in the United States? We are led to believe that the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution abolished slavery and “involuntary servitude,” or forced labor, but a close read of the text shows otherwise. The 13th Amendment — as well as many state constitutions — contains a loophole that makes compulsory labor legal as punishment for a crime. 

Forcing one person to work for the benefit of another, especially when applied disproportionately to Black and Brown communities, does not create an authentic pathway of restitution for victims of crime or rehabilitation for prisoners. As Anglican Christians, we are committed to dignity for all people, and stand against slavery in its many guises. For this reason, Grace Cathedral has joined our Diocesan Bishop Marc Andrus, and Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, in endorsing the movement to end slavery for good. 

Our endorsement of a movement means taking the courageous step to advocate with decision-makers in state and federal government at critical junctures, as we did with Proposition 17 in 2020. It means studying the issues together and developing a shared understanding of the substance and process that will create lasting change. It means developing and deepening relationships with the most impacted communities, with people who suffer generational trauma and structural poverty because the work of emancipation is not finished. It means infusing our worship, prayer life, and discourse with a deeper awareness of the persistent sin of treating others as commodities, wherever and whenever it has happened, and the role of faithful people in responding.

Stand with Grace, stand with justice, stand for all. An issue of this magnitude invites the active participation of the whole community and has a place for everyone, including you.

Download an infographic and share it with your community.

In November 2021 Grace Cathedral joined with other civic and faith-based organizations to endorse Proposition 17, a constitutional amendment on the California ballot to restore the voting rights of offenders released from prison on parole. It was estimated that Prop. 17 would re-enfranchise 50,000 people, 73% of whom are non-white. Proposition 17 passed by a 58% majority.

In addition to California, Connecticut, New York, and Washington passed legislation in 2021 to restore the voting rights of parolees. New Jersey and Iowa did so in 2020. Parolees can now vote in 22 states.

Much remains to be done. 28 states still have restrictions including permanent disenfranchisement (11 states), waiting periods, mandatory clemency applications, and payment of restitution, fines, and court fees as a prerequisite to regaining voting rights.