Beverly Church Puts “Black Lives Matter” on Digital Sign

Evan F. Moore | As of Wednesday, September 9, 2015

A sign that reads Black Lives Matter placed outside the Beverly Unitarian Church, located at 10244 S. Longwood Dr. in Chicago's Beverly neighborhood, has had a polarizing effect on residents there.
A sign that reads Black Lives Matter placed outside the Beverly Unitarian Church, located at 10244 S. Longwood Dr. in Chicago's Beverly neighborhood, has had a polarizing effect on residents there. Cydni Polk

The digitally scrolling sign outside of the Beverly Unitarian Church, located at 10244 S. Longwood Dr., in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood, sometimes reads, “Black Lives Matter.” According to the church’s Facebook fan page, the sign was a part of a series of signs to engage the community to think about the world around them.

Blue Island resident Cydni Polk grew up in Beverly. She says she noticed the sign when she was in the neighborhood visiting family for the Labor Day weekend.

“I was excited. I was proud. I literally came back to the location and timed the scrolling sign to get that picture,” Polk says. “I searched for the church on Facebook to give them kudos, and to show my appreciation for them "Being the change they want to see “in the community.”

Texas resident Brandon Jones lived in Beverly during the 80’s and 90’s. He saw the sign on a friend’s Facebook page.

“Honestly it is refreshing to see a church that understands that Black Lives Matters as what it is,” Jones says. "It’s a group that is looking at the disproportionate way in which law enforcement deals with black folks in our country.”

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Members of the Unitarian Church of Evanston, Ill. sit in front of a Black Lives Matter sign.

Other Beverly residents applauded Beverly Unitarian for posting the sign. Social media comments included “That's what's up, now I feel better about my neighborhood,” and “Yep. We've come a long way in the Beverly area.”

Many police officers, along with members of conservative news outlets such as Fox News, believe that Black Lives Matter is a hate group that encourages violence against police officers.

Katie Spivey, a woman who has the Confederate Flag as her profile picture on Facebook posted to Beverly Unitarian’s Facebook page, “Nice that a church plays into the race card crap perpetuated by society and the media! Thank you for doing your part to support what is quickly becoming a terrorist movement and further segregating the American people!”

Brian Cordes, who also has a Facebook profile, left a comment saying, “Blm is a terrorist organization intent on the murder of police officers and white people as shown by their actions, social media reps, and numerous chants calling for the mass murder of police and white people. Plus there has been a war declared in police. This is not a legit civil rights movement but a hate filled terror group. THAT'S why you're catching flack.”

Beverly Unitarian responded by posting to Facebook, “The statement "black lives matter" does not mean that other lives do not matter. Indeed, it is exactly the opposite. If all life matters, then paying attention to those whose lives are demonstrably less valued by society becomes a necessary response. As Universalists, we believe that all life is equally precious and everyone should have the right to thrive in an environment of peace and freedom.”

The post went on to say, “We support the hard work of those in law enforcement and know that their jobs are difficult at all times and especially when passions run high. We regularly remember and honor in our worship services those people who have lost their lives ensuring our freedoms.”

Last month, the Unitarian Church of Evanston installed a Black Lives Matter sign in front of the church. Gail Smith, an attorney and founder of the Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers (CLAIM), is a member of the Unitarian Church in Evanston. She says the church is engaging in a year-long experiment to gauge how people can live out what the sign says.

“This was the first unanimous vote in our church, in anyone's memory. That's pretty amazing, and it took a lot of time and education prior to the meeting where the vote took place,” Smith says. “While there is a range of understanding of the movement in our predominantly white church, there has been strong support for a process of learning and becoming more involved, and strong attendance at the events we have had so far.”

Smith went on to say that the church has sold 275 "Black Lives Matter" yard signs.

“While a few people have had their yard signs stolen or defaced, I don't think there has been any negative response to the sign in front of our church,” Smith says. “And other churches in Evanston – Black, as well as white congregations, have expressed support and some members and clergy have attended vigils we've had.”

Repeated attempts to contact Beverly Unitarian Church and Rev. Karen Mooney went unanswered.

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