6500 people of protestant, catholic, jewish faith. In his opening comments reflected that we are here to speak with one voice, our deep religious convictions about the dignity of man and rights of all men. What are Congress Considers in terms of public policy, we uphold in terms of Human Dignity. He concluded by saying that this assembly is but a beginning, we have embarked on a crusade that will not be ended until every american has given equal right, equal opportunities of full recognition of her or his Human Dignity. In these words the call is as urgent today as it was 53 years ago. It animates our ongoing commitment to grappling with our historic participation in the institution of slavery. The call that commands us to address with greater vigor, the legacies of racism, segregation and discrimination that persists. A call that inspires a reflection, or action, and our Work Together as university community. I wish to express my appreciation for your presence this evening. Its a privilege to be here. [applause] please join in singing amazing grace, found in your program. Please stand. Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me i once was lost but now im found was blind, but now i see to is grace that taught my heart to fear and grace, my fears relieved how precious did that grace appear, the hour i first believed. The lord has promised good to me, his word my hope secures. He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures. Through many dangers, toils and snares, i have already calm. Calm. Is grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead us home. When we been there 10000 years, bright shining as the sun. Is no less days to sing gods praise, than that when we first be gone up. The in the shadow of rabbi and all the generations of rabbis who fought for justice before me it is my privilege to pay with you tonight. Blessed are you god, spirits and breath of all that lived. Open our eyes this day and every day to see your light, dear god as it shines through every human being. Help us recognize the inherent dignity and quality, radiance and life of all the human family. Blessed are you god who guides our footsteps. Guide us this day toward wholeness, move us away from the racism that divides us and cuts us off from one another and from you. Travis away from the equivocation that honors the divine image and some but i notn others. Blessed are you god gives us strength. Strength and our courage to turn inward and see ourselves as we are in turn outward to pursue the world as it should be. Strengthen us to protect and plead one anothers call. Blessed are you god. Takes care of her o every knee. Bless us and our gathering tonight. Bless us to hear hard truths tonight bravely. If our hearts begin to harden, soften us. If we begin to recoil, or just towards one another and empathy. For this is what you desire for us. Quiet our minds, ready our spirits, for the hard work the world needs us to do. May we be comforted by the knowledge that you are with us every step of the way. Bad be your will and maybe hours. Amen. Please be seated. Good evening. My name is john, im director of the initiative and im honored to partner with our colleagues. Thank you rabbi for the moving prayer. You can tell we are in interfaith community. With saying all the verses of the song. [laughter] i want to say thanks to president joy and his initiative and leadership in many areas. He talked about how we are wrestling was with this in georgetown. Many of you know it has taken a very personal realities with a broader understanding of the sale of human beings to support the college and university. People ask why has georgetowns response been different than other places. There are many reasons. There are two things that we have to think about. One is religious convictions about human life and dignity, but human rights and justice, about solidarity that gives us a different way to look at the world. And the other is the guidance of our president s who took this headon to find a way forward. It took a long time to get here. Moral principles and leadership i things we need to confront racism. Religious institutions and people are part of the problem and elements of the solution. Think about it. People relied on the bible to justify slavery. The clan burned the cross to intimidate africanamericans and catholics and jews. On the hand, the abolitionists, Martin Luther king jr. Was reverent. Cardinal boyle stood up in difficult times. The card on the pastoral letter said step forward. Archbishop gregory step forward. Were here to talk about others ideas and institutions and leadership can make a difference. We have a Remarkable Group of people. One is the pastor. The fact that it only says something about him and us. Tim wallace who has been a leader, preacher, writer, and advocate on this issue for his life. And doctor marcia who has in her teaching and scholarship and also in her leadership on this campus and elsewhere has helped us find a way forward. We will be joined by a hero, someone called the conscious of the congress and representative lewis has a day job. In fact we are assured he is on his way here. So we have hard questions, we have elements of responses and a great group of people to help us. Archbishop, you went to charlottesville after those horrible days. He said as i recall that we have to find better ways to talk about the r word, racism. You live your life, ministered, that with discrimination in your own situation. When my favorite things that he decided he wanted to be a priest before he was catholic. Testament to the power of Catholic Schools in the innercity. I words when he was president and he provided tremendous leadership. I personally will never forget at a time when the church was on trial and i was the parent of young sons, he stood up on sexual abuse and insisted on accountability and change in the church. A pastor courage and a lot of that has come in the area of Racial Justice. So when you say we have trouble talking about racism, what did you mean . How should we be talking about it . Theyre trying to make the case that we can talk about tough issues through civil dialogue, when we find it hard . Should we do to overcome our avoidance of the r word. Defended difficult in the history of this nation because they become so polarized. In some ways we have lost the ability to speak civilly to one another. Like is difficult because the issue of racism at its core is a spiritual difficulty. Spiritual moment. Like any spiritual moment, it calls us to conversion. We are freedom anyways to talk about the race question and talk about racism with one another because it might reveal that what we thought we understood, we dont understand. Thats part of a spiritual conversion, to acknowledge that what we thought we possess that made us feel secure, we dont. When young men with torches march through the streets of charlottesville saying you will not replace it. When young black men lose their lives in our cities in conflict with police and broader violence, when as president joy said, africanamericans are twice as likely to be jobless in the city and infant mortality is twice as high for africanamerican babies. If its a spiritual conversion, how to those reality shape not only our spiritual response but our personal, or public response . Part of this moment in our responses there have been moments within our history, recent history where we reached a moment. Whether it was a civil rights, voiding rights act and so much hope in achieving that threshold that we confuse it. The disappointment we find ourselves facing the same issues, and sometimes even more complex issues that we thought if we could only connect this piece of legislation, if this young articulate african man can be elected president , surely we have crossed the threshold. These events cause us to doubt that we might ever be able to achieve those moments of real and deep spiritual reconciliation. You talk about spiritual conversion and whether well cross that bridge. What are the roles and responsibilities of religious institutions in this period were in a chapel not a lecture hall. We begin with song and prayer not a political call to arms. Pope francis seems to be a universal leader who can touch her conscience in ways that many others cannot. Whats the responsibility of religious institutions and what can we learn from religious leaders but for civic and political and community leaders. What is his message . I think pope francis and doctor king said the role of faith is to accompany people. To walk with them lifes journey and only not only just walk with them, challenge them. Its the work of evangelization and inviting people to conversion earlier it was reference that doctor king, the world refers to him as doctor king is first referencing. That his leadership was primarily a spiritual leadership. Theres no question that he was directly involved with the civil changes that took place as part of the silver Rights Movement. But he was first of all one who spoke to the heart of our nation about the spiritual values that were being ignored. Marcia, your scholar professor at georgetown. You are a native of chicago. This is atlanta night but also chicago night at georgetown. Youve received many awards for your teaching. Youve written an incredible book about young africanamerican girls growing up yet, but i want to ask about is the experience of serving on this working group. Almost all of us walked in and off to the right is isaac caulkins hall. It used to be called milady ho home. Who is father milady . Who is Isaac Hawkins . And why is that important . When you think about the work that we did, for a number of us it was an exploration into the history of georgetown and the jesuits in the United States. Father milady was an American Catholic in a time when American Catholics were not clear about the question of slavery. Who is also a leader at Georgetown University who had a choice. The choice pivoted round human beings. That was the 272 men, women, and children to reconcile for the debt for georgetown. Its really important for us to understand why we made the decision to rename not only milady home to Isaac Hawkins hall. These two halls in the renaming of important for other institutions to resist the false idolatry to building confederate statues and flakes. The symbol in our culture that people devoting these things rather than thinking about the spiritual conversions. To say that we are no longer going to put a place of honor for this person who had a legitimate choice in a moment would catholics are grappling about the question of slavery amid the choice that was the most nefarious and fundamental in strengthening slavery. Lower talking is a group about the renaming were also thinking about the powerful character of isaac in the pipe on the sacrifice. If we imagine our institutions have been predicated on human life and dignity and perhaps there be a different relationship to her institution and each other. The second is named after emery she establishes go for africanamerican girls. Having a memorial on campus tour helps us remember the racial composition of georgetown. And to imagine a person whos living free life and watching her brothers and sisters. The complexity and challenge that both of the figures lived with. During that Human Dignity in a world that cannot see that is one of the ways the process can animate and help students understand why we pursue the education we do here at georgetown. So people would say that the simple and making that judgment as they made their judgment a long time ago, what are the attitudes and behaviors . What are the actions we have to take to not talk about the legacy years ago but deal with the reality today. You study the sum of this, separate from faith. If you dont believe what was being talked about, what are the moral qualities . What are the civic virtues swinging to deal with a time like this . At the heart of White Supremacy with think about the power it tries to consolidate. What has happened in our nation as we have conversations about unending legacy and what we do about racism today. We dont have the leadership that saying to us, its not just about a conversion of your heart, its about the restoration of your own Human Dignity. Think a person who has invested themselves has no idea of their own Human Dignity. We havent lived in that context that provides the moral inventory. I may bring up the election. Thats what i do. This past election was a moment where we went from a real shock and then a three ring circus about reaching across the aisle. Instead of saying, take a moment think about the consequences of your power and its predicated on the power and what we sit with that. The problem with the antiracist work is that it is wellintentioned but it never requires anything of the person sinking conversion. No moral wrestling no real reconciliation. In terms of people organized around religious communities, and at the only ones with access to the moral question. Any member of this community has to grapple with that question. When we decide there just for the churchy folks we lose sight of the vision and our capacity to see this through. But we did at georgetown was instructive but husband says the more you can tolerate negative emotions of others, the better you do in the world. Thats really hard to do. But never as a nation have we sat with the negative emotion of what White Supremacy has done in the we think healing as possible. And its not. I love many things about you. You say tough things in ways that if i descend instead a push us away. Nobody likes a grim dogooder. And you call us to justice, you say joyful justice. I never thought those words went together. But someone who is a practice of that is jim wallace, hes a friend, a bestselling author, colleague, baseball coach, he coached other peoples kids thats as close as you get to purgatory in this life. But you talked about moral wrestling. This is a man who is done moral wrestling since his teenage years gore growing up in michigan where he asked her questions about segregation and discrimination and got involved with the black church. He has written 12 bucks which is almost as hard as coaching for 11 years. Your latest book is americas original sin. Racism, White Privilege on the bridge to the new america. I have my copy i suggest you get one. Why is racism americas original sin . What is your understanding of White Privilege . What is the bridge to the new america when a lot of people simply want to make America Great again. When i realize we would have this in chapel was very grateful. This is a great place for this conversation. Particularly in the last few years it is clear we are not going to get where we need by just talking politics. We need to talk about theology and go deeper. Whats at stake is the soul of the nation. As well as the integrity of faith. Father and i were doing the Racial Justice week at marquette. He said to the students, how many of you white students have ever heard racism named and called the sin from the pulpits. Yes that all the time. Almost no white students raise their hand. We heard about conversion this and we dont talk about. Wasnt just slavery, it was the kind of slavery that we created. We wipe christians in particular because he said you cant do it or doing. If you believe people are made in the image of god so great risk continuing threat mass incarceration, healthcare, education, jobs. Its about the image of god. You mentioned Little League baseball coaching. But White Privilege, every black pair ive ever coach for 22 seasons every black player i ever knew has had the talk with their dad or mom of how to behave in the presence of a police officer. What to do, not to do, how to hold your hands, and my weight players ever had that talk with mom and dad. And very few of their parents, white parents even knew what was going on. The talk. The talk is everywhere. Its about what black parents have to tell their kids. White privilege, safety. I cant tell you activist academics they talk about White Privilege they talk about their kids and how the dont feel safe for their kids walking out the door for any door in the city. So the answer is repentance. That word is important in jewish and islamic traditions. Doesnt mean you feel guilty or sorry. It means turning around and going in a new direction. What we say in chapel about sin, repentance, and conversion has to be turning around things and placing systems. Education, healthcare, thats the test thats the test of our words here. What are words in our hearts . This nation isnt going to get to the bridge if it doesnt go deeper into policy. Two weeks ago i had the privilege of going down to see its an upscale lovely place i was gonna go play golf and then the game was worthy when i was stressed to go play golf Young White Lady came and asked me she asked wheres the restaurant the presumption was that if a black man was at the colony, no matter how he was stressed so that was that he was a staffer. The presumption, is it possible that this black man so is this man here to play golf like my husband, the presumption is the opposite. It takes on what youre saying about White Privilege is the importance of black parents speaking to their children about this is how you must behave in the events that were stopped for a ticket. You for the inability to reach is anything but a servant so then imagine a world with housing discrimination, they can even get there. I think something that i found people asking what can i do. They want them assigning a book. What can i do, we no longer engage this question. Its more important to look about what you have done. What are the choices youre making that it caused harm. After he spent time with that, what are you willing to do. What is your imagination allow you to think about in terms of doing the work. We have to think that the prescriptions x, y, and z. We have to wrestle with the fact that our behavior has caused limitations to imagination. Once we deal with the we can imagine that on a larger scale. The solution is not superficial. Its in the heart and soul. The chief executive has the same stories. People throwing their keys to them. You ask for tea and they go to a head table as a fundraiser. In my class at georgetown i have a young student who said sarah was out walking set i think we should stand up [applause] [applause] that was a good story. Just a transition, were talking about how to rebuild the beloved community that you and doctor king, that you talk about all the time. Theyre talking about the talk in the archbishop was telling the story. Atlanta, chicago, so little rough your first minnesota people. Explained he was at a resort and somebody stop by to say where was the restaurant. You never did say what you told her. I simply said im a guest here like you. I was at a meeting and are doing remarkable Work Together with churches Christian Churches of every strike. And bread for the world as part of that. I was trying to get my head on this. Africanamerican bush up who jogs, resented that. Secondly, he never leaves the house without his drivers license. Even when he goes out running. My daughter is trying to teach me what White Privileges. She had read about the leadership in response to georgetown. She said maybe being part of the university where the sale of 272 human beings, that might be a part of right privilege. There are many untruths in washington. [laughter] and being diplomatic. One untruth is that there are no heroes in washington. We have a hero, and he is here tonight. [applause] you might not remember me but i remember you congressman lewis. I had the privilege of working for Loretta Scott king. Frankly there mostly older men and they would debate and talk and eventually it came time to decide and then a much younger man would make the case with passion urgency and clarity about the path forward. That young man is you. Now you not so young anymore. But youre still making the case for the path forward. I looked at the program of the march in washington. You are the youngest person to speak there. Youre the only person still living who spoke at the march in washington. As the giants of the civil Rights Movement. And it was 7 liters of religious groups. You have always told the religious community that we have to play a part in the struggle for civil and human rights. As you think back to the march on washington and think about what we have been through this last year, what you think needs to be done. I am delighted to be here. Im pleased to be here tonight. I regret very much i had a commitment at another university that delayed me. But im always glad to be at georgetown. The past few months have been like hell on wheels. Ive seen a great deal that i never in all my days seeing what is happening in america today. Sometimes i feel like weve lost our way about redeeming the soul of america. I think it was some theologian said the church should be a headlight not a taillight. I think im getting it right. And from time to time we have to be a spark plug, mostly young people would know what a spark plug is. And not a firecracker. A firecracker can come along and boom but a firecracker can a spark plug can continue to burn. We have to give all of our people, especially her young people, children a sense of hope and faith that theyre gonna make it. So were going to overcome until them not to get lost in despair and thats become more hostile. But the way of love is a much better way. Just love everybody. You may get arrested and go to jail a few times. But youre making a down payment on building a community. Congressman, you mentioned arrests, think youve been arrested 50 times. Almost 50. You talk about blood he sunday. That was your blood on the streets there and others. It, you are never bitter, uis talk about love. How do you come in a divided nation, incredibly angry and resentful time when people are pitted against each other for political gain, how do you pull people together and help them see that what they have in common we had a conversation about what White Privilege dust white people, how do you lift up the banner of love and service and justice in a society that seems to be tearing itself apart without resorting to hate. How do invite people in . Its important for all of us as children of god almighty to continue to live lives of love. Just love everybody. Never give up on the idea that we can all become a little bit more human. That we are created in the image of the almighty. I remember a student in 1960 before the first arrest, we studied the philosopher we have the dues and the donts, the end of the city we said. [inaudible] eightynine were arrested that day. And every single one of us had a copy of the dues in the donts. Let mass the panel, if we were to do the dos and donts of resisting racism, you dont have to do the homeless tonight, but if youre thing to think about a do or dont, what would be on your list . We talk in chapel a lot about love, and we should and we are. But the love john lewis showed on the bridge that day is a love willing to risk. We often dont put the risk with the love. So i think warmer talking about building the bridge to a new america means those of us who believe in more same tonight, we have to be up able to say where are we going to risk our presence, our privilege and wealth and time, our faith in the middle of transforming the systems about policing and healthcare and mass incarceration. When i talk to the young kids the question i always hear back, not, do you believe what were trying to do, but what risks are you willing to take . What is the risk we are willing to take, will relive an act we have to be willing to take some risks to make the changes that we say we believe in. We have the 50th anniversary going back up the bridge and you are just walking with wheelchairs and walkers and all the foot soldiers were there. What struck me was the risk all these foot soldiers took to make Voting Rights possible. It happened because of the risk you took. One of the dues that i was supposed to tell the people watching on Live Streaming on how to join our conversation and you can join them on twitter, pretend i told you that about half an hour ago. For those of you who feel badly about those who couldnt be on here what a great turnout today. This is painted by cspan and will be broadcast over the next days and weeks. There will be a chance. Archbishop, your dues are donts . Congressman lewis put his finger on the heart of the issue about loving other people. I would say do has to be loving yourself, and realizing that my dignity, my goodness in my word is not dependent on my standing on someone else. If in fact we are gods children, that is where the dignity lies. In our creature had the guy gave to us, and i to not have to step on anyone to be worthwhile. You are born with that. [applause] because you forget where the of mechanism has developed in where longevity is and those that have committed to the movements. And to add to that list dont try to smooth the tears are silenced the anchor. Thing going back to the issue of gender we have such an opportunity in this movement of racial conflict in unfortunately what happens is the men that are shut out because it deals and angry or uncomfortable. And at the end of the day all i can say is a woman lost her son in the man lost his son and a group of people lost a member of their community and there were angry and upset. With only wish for other people is the people we love and then when we say goodbye we all want them to return to us. Because of the color of your skin or Sexual Identity or gender there is a possibility will return. Bin and the joy that a broad. And those that we want to come back to last to have a more humane approach to these questions. [applause] you got me started on the do and dont. What about today . Love. It is so strong and powerful. Last october i had the opportunity to travel to rochester new york. In the 1965. Every time in rochester. And minister in the say john we love you prefer i said sister, i love you. So with that power medicine with all of us. Playing a song from time to time. Dont hate. That is too heavy a burden to bear. Haiti is going. [laughter] thing. [inaudible] god. [applause] i would say especially to those young People Better here early on in life so with this particular moment is the virtue of pope. Hope but with this negative energy that is out there. Is the invitation because it is a temptation to abandon hope and with dantes inferno so to abandon hope all who enter. When you lose hope that is held. Talk about evangelicals that catholics have been known to use the word and the way that we get to that is the examination of a conscience and what you should do or should not do what should be not do . We were at a town meeting tuesday i am a recovery racist. But things are so bad i dont see hope anymore. That is White Privilege. So the retreat to cynicism is what we dont do but hope and optimism, i am not optimistic if you talk about the hill right now but that that is in the mood but a decision that you make so the face Community Access in hope when there was a much optimism in to do that every single day. So i invite people to join the conversation on twitter. [laughter] that should be the response. The lord me with your. [laughter] and i invite the of colleagues to bring the microphone for word please just stand up here asking people to live up that would be a great help so Congress Really was you cross that bridge loveless the way that you expressed a but it looks like were going backwards with Voting Rights. To validate major sections of the bill people gave great speeches now we have legislatures and governors. What you think is that work . We thought after you cross the bridge after the Voting Rights act was selling. On many occasions it is precious. It is the most powerful of nonviolent instrument that we havent we have to use it. I believe what happened in virginia the handwriting is on the wall. [applause] the most political fact in this nation reynaud but after a couple decades with the majority of minorities. And that is a strategy to take the votes away. And with the refugee policy or gerrymandering your voter fraud or Voter Suppression and though strategy is that is what we are up against so that work is not done and to understand that strategy with mass incarceration so we have to be involved in those struggles particularly with these elections going forward. I am convinced that seven groups of people that the pope came speaking to the congress is that we are all immigrants. So on this piece of real estate. To put them on a path to citizenship. [applause] in terms of the voting issue with the lack of hope or the fact that we live in this nation and a great percentage even the congressman with the colleagues in the Civilrights Movement to have the right to vote comedy of our people, africanamerican and white people dont bother to go a vote . We will turn to questions you ask you to identify yourself put your question in the form of a question. [laughter] i know how i end up at georgetown. My friend would drag me over here. All of the talks are wonderful that is true. But for the doctor but i played poker. So i am sitting in a poker table. This better be a short poker game. Real . There were two black kids one i knew it i had played with before. She works at another casino then another gentleman about my age it makes a very racist, and. I Say Something to him. So the two kids quieted me down they clearly did not want any part they did not want an argument or anything. Like i want to ignore like it did not happen. So is the Younger Generation if they have not run into racism or maybe they just want to pretend like it doesnt exist . It is getting better. That it will all take care of itself . I cannot presuppose their impulse but there are moments in my life that a person wants to stand up something on my behalf but one of the things is to strategically protect itself from further committee will negative jubilation the disciplines you to keep you in your place and opens you up to humiliation. I appreciated they were calling out the racism but i think especially in the country that confronting racism there is always a Second Thought for somebody who spends a lot of time with that anxiety that is unhealthy the very much grounded with that exposure that i put myself up to. Working at Archbishop Carroll school. So my question is for the archbishop but how does the church need to change with a Current Administration was mostly elected that identified themselves as christians but do not go to church . If were taking talking about that role of religious institutions so howd you feel that church might need to change . The first thing they have to acknowledge is that they are racist it isnt a sin that is out there but permeates through all of us. So one of the things that pope francis does very well when he describes himself says have you describe yourself . He says i am a sinner. Its not just a cute response but the awareness that as a minister of the gospel i will invite the people that i care for and serve and i have to begin by saying it is a journey i have to take with you. The operative words with White Christians is white, not a christian. That was true with evangelicals, so that is a question with White Supremacy . So how do we have our pastors love the people enough this isnt issue what does it mean to be a disciple . So it is that type of issue with that disciple ship talking about Racial Equity in healing the and we will not help navigate to renew america. I think Little League sports is critical. This is for navigating the average as an issue of faith thank you for your work. I am a masters student no doubt we will see his face with that commentary what do you hope to see as part of the commentary . The story that may not be appropriate my flight was canceled so i have one day in memphis so i went to graceland in to go to the civilrights museum and the lady said nobody had gone that way before to make that journey. We have to make that journey so everybody can see the civil rights museum. Is but dr. King that we sanitized somewhat it is wonderful he is part of a National Holiday but what should we remember about his life . Was it the gospel . He didnt study tibia civil rights leader. To believe in the power of the holy spirit so then he wanted to deal with those pockets may be something died with him. When we heard he was assassinated was campaigning for Bobby Kennedy. And i cried too many people all over the world in two months later Bobby Kennedy was gone. But i did not lose hope i kept the faith that somehow we will survive and if not for dr. King or Robert Kennedy if not for m. L. King, jr. Said to go back to indianapolis i have not been back since then. Then i will make it to memphis later. Any comment . [laughter] the only thing that i hope is that the antimilitarism or questions about the wages of capitalism that they can understand that is part of the greatness. [applause] the archdiocese of atlanta is working closely with our partners and while we have not fleshed out the specific program my suspect it is the Ecumenical Service but from my perspective one of my predecessors the first archbishop was a friend of dr. King and he had been sick obviously but of a bite to combine those two because without profound impact with Death Community and the anniversary of the assassination might be a good time to look at that you commendable fellowship that is the bedrock of our society. So with those three evil triplets. But he was not done and we cannot be done either. But with those people growing up around the country. So how do we bring this back . So what would he think . Will with a thing if we were watching this evening . It is important to remember to support the garbage men who were striking for dignity of wages and jobs. Women suffer a georgetown talking about women that the Civilrights Movement to supplant race for gender liberation one of those marginalized groups with the racial Liberation Movement is the of black improvement of the lgbt group with their identity and community what is the church doing to support the black and brown . Or believing that they tend to think religion is conflicting as part of that sexual liberation to support those black and. People . Who should we have an answer that . [laughter] the first part is not enough of a waterfall jesuit has written a wonderful book in which he challenges both the Institutional Church church, the Catholic Church church, my church to be in dialogue with the Lgbt Community to build bridges. And that has challenged a lot of people in my church because you dont want to build a bridge if you think youre already on the right side of the cliff. That is where we have to go next. Two years ago i met with a group of parents, a gay and lesbian young people that called themselves the fortunate family. And they just wanted to talk to me in the last question that one of them asked was, archbishop can you love our kids . And by response was to them, i have to love your kids. I dont have an option. I think thats the call we have to have right now. I heard we got a little bit of a late start so we have to go a little bit longer. Can i ask people to offer two questions together and we will ask the panel to respond and then we will wrap up. Pull the microphone down, please. I am encouraged by the story abouthis storyabout being in thn just because you are africanamerican. I am glad and honored and i won a response from the panel and the congressman because it is not just the government direct directly. When i presume i am not only because of the way i look and the way i sound. I came back from canada on october 23. At 2 00 in the border in champlain new york my closest friend he and his son gave and why they chose me to. They wanted to see what about her. What were you and what were you doing there and my friends response we were visiting my sister in montreal and we are coming back. He looked at me and said how do you know her. Like he picked me up from down the road and ive been in this country for 40 years and since 1993 i worked for the government for 12 years and i searched the nation and the communities in disasters. I served the three countries in south america. I couldnt believe what had happened to me. They put us in a room to wait for 40 minutes. I better not say what he asked me because the humiliation is beyond what i can tell you and the accusation was beyond. I couldnt come back that day. So the law that you are telling me to practice, teach me. [laughter] and the understanding that you want me to have from the presumption of me not being is very honorable and decent woman is unacceptable. So, i dont know how you would respond. Thank you. Thank you for sharing your story. If you could ask your question and we will respond to several apps once. The question is much more important than mine was going to be. I would like the panel in addition to commenting on her question to also comment on the topic of the panel in relation to the race relations, not just the Africanamerican Community that the Latino Community. I would like to add is not simply the black or Latino Community although clearly it is a lot of hostility but im alsoo deeply concerned about the bigotry of the islamic brothers and sisters. Congressman, i am deeply comes earned about what happened to you. Because the color of your skin or the address or maybe some of our speech. Afl off Randolph Bourne in Jacksonville Florida moved to new york and became a champion of civil rights and labor righ rights. It was said over and over again maybe our forefathers and mothers all came to this land in different shifts. Martin luther put it a different way and we must live with brothers and sisters or we will perish. We got to desensitize integer case, people in our places and i dont want to become too political about it but when you have certain individuals like that in very high places sending the word out there that maybe youre not like us or they become [inaudible] we have to work every single day to remove that. I would ask if we could take the three questions and ask the aske panelists to respond and summarize and then we will begin to bring the evening to a close. Im a junior here at georgetown and one of the Vice President s of thpresident s of tp chapter on the campus. As a student involved in that pressures tpressure is to change practice and ideology for different voices, my question is in your life, how do you fight for equity and liberation and what part of the practice and ideology have stayed the same and what parts have changed and then also how do you stay true to the revolutionary values that we use in a place where compromise is more fundamental . It sounds like a term paper in the making. [laughter] come forward and im sure congressman lewis will handle that. [laughter] how do you explain racism to people that refuse to see color not race. From the other state run into the very wellintentioned people claim not to see race in the hope that it will just disappear. How would you respond to that . I am a junior its hard to follow with such smart people. My question i guess i grew up here in watching tim d. C. And my question is how do we oppose racism and the community especially with those that refuse to acknowledge the existence in the two things that are clearly very existence. How do you keep your values and how do they stay consistent and how do you explain racism to people and explain they are not racist and how do you talk to people who insist they do not see color or ethnicity . [laughter] as humans we all have some strange habit. And Rights Movement people discriminated people that look at the march on washington was dominated by ministers. Some of the leaders in the movement consider the movement in their church discriminates against people who happen to be gay and one of the marchers was gay but there isnt a role for this person to play in the movement, to play up front and open daylight. The senator would stand up and Say Something about this particular person or movement. We all have to find ways just as the brothers and sisters lets just get along and be friends and explain the racism, sexism and deeply embedded in the american society. Its a revolution of values. We all have to become a little more human. Just be human. I see some of my colleagues in the congress and to say how are you doing. Going to look crazy calling them brothers and sisters. Can we be one big family blessed by god almighty. Im trying to think of you and president of trump running into each other. [laughter] in los angeles, i see arrested a pentecostal pastor, undocumented and he went to check to tell them where he was in that they detained him, not going to deport him after all these years so a bunch of people like westerners organized the new conversion test where jesus says as you have done a stranger has gone on to me so this pastor was set free and they beat donald trump in los angeles. I said people acting on what they think is true, then for example all the initials are beloved of god. I like the fact they took on ic with a text and not a political slogan and the text one. So getting back to the conversation, this is where faith has to shape and change politics. As for all of the traditions but if we do not put our faith into action, we are not going to change politics. When doug westerners come like you i come back and say what does that mean. It can mean Different Things. You get the squad taking care of all these students but i thin tk unless we put our faith into the action to debate politics, we are not going to win and we are in a serious battle for the nation. Now they are tied together. The individual who says i dont see color, race, i would say that you dont see gods creation, because part of the magnificence of gods creation is different. And its at the root i didnt study science but at the root of the discovery, how do things differ and that is part of the genius that he can create all kinds of Different Things as in the book of genesis is clearly describes. So, someone who says i dont see the difference, my response is then you do not understand creation. I get that feedback a lot about not seeing this or that. Can you imagine the kind of pain im trying to talk to you about and that is sometimes jarring. We are not coping with peoples internal stuff that we have to present it as a barrier to intimacy. If you choose not to see color when you choose not to be close to me and i need to understand why. When you frame a question that way its been opening for a person to come closer to what youre trying to teach them order to run away. But if i can make one editorial comment come at th, at the afrin History Museum which ive only been able to get tickets because some of the students work for you, there are objects in a museum, but the one i love the most is a Little Silver box in which someone donated to the museum because a great grandparents when he became a free, his freedom papers were put in the box and he had to carry them with him always and for a lot of people of color we think it is our credential and success, patriotism, but we have these freedom papers that are etched onto us and people are asking us constantly to show them. We have to get to the point we assume everyone is free because they are valuable. [applause] i have lots of people i should think that im not going to. [laughter] on your program or a couple of things im going to highlight. One is the resources of the colleagues in the omission of ministry. You can go online and sign up for the daily reflections that will help you focus the mind and heart and some of the things weve been talking about this thursday evening we are hosting a session again with the Democracy Fund and save the common good and democracy in a time of President Trump and pope francis should be an interesting discussion. We are marking the 50th anniversary of the passing of John Courtney murray and we have mcelroy from san diego that wrote a wonderful book and the obama faithbased director and law professor from notre dame. We began in prayer and song and weve had wonderful reflections and candor, passion, questions it is appropriate we ended in prayer. I want to introduce carl powell who grew up in brooklyn and is part of the clos class of 2018 studying history. Hes a mentor, counselor and leader in the community. Please stand. At the end of that time together let us take a moment to pray for hope in the world and time. Please respond to each petition, gave us hope. Let us pray that the dialogue today be counted for the enlargement of the community. [inaudible] it may come together for a common purpose and bring the end to that which it is divided. Maybe endeavors began to restore all of our people and work for the common good of all specially those with whom much has been taken. May those counted as little be counted as much and their lives be an abiding testimony we pray. Let us pray for the renewal of the commitment to push aside and made the sense of personal accountability for the struggle divided and made the light of love radiate out and hell be abiding wounds of the nation we pray. Mimi grant the faith to believe in the new world where fear will no longer lead to injustice and selfishness. Finally we ask god to inspire us to promote peace to comfort one another in the process we pray. The archbishop of washington, d. C. Is the invocation for the e march on washington for jobs and freedom august 281963. Our father in heaven, we who are assembled here in the spirit of peace and good faith dedicate ourselves and hopes to you we ask for the fullness of your blessing upon those that have gathered with us today upon all men and women of goodwill upon whom the cause of justice and equality is sacred we are convinced honoring all your children plus the nation and all the people made the warmth of your lover place. It means it will give strength and wisdom to the president and Vice President to invite him and guide the congress of the United States. Made the judges be heralds of justice and equity. Let it be administered without discrimination and see to it that no one would be so powerful as to be above the law or so weeks to be deprived of its full protection. We ask the blessing for those men and women insincerely and honesty have been leaders in the struggle for justice as moses of old theyve gone before the people to the land of promise. But that promise quickly become a reality so the ideals blessed alike by their religious faith and heritage of democracy will prevail. Finally, we ask all those that are dedicated to the principles of the constitution of the United States may we be sensitive to our duties toward others as weak and from then our rights. May we move forward without bitterness even when confronted with prejudice and discrimination. Discrimination. May we shun violence and know that the meek shall inherit the earth and made this matter be joined with courage and strength and following the teaching of christ your son we shall now and in the days to come live together as brothers and sisters in dignity, justice, charity and peace. Amen. [inaudible conversations]