Signs stolen, supporters stand up for racial justice

Katherine Lymn, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

APPLETON - In response to repeated thefts of a banner in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, a local racial justice group turned up the volume Thursday with a demonstration to show support of and to raise money for the national organization.

Like the population of Appleton, those holding signs on the sidewalk along Calumet Street outside the Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship late Thursday afternoon were mostly white. But that wasn't just a reflection of the population demographic — it was to show that racism is a problem white Americans need to address, the demonstrators said.

"Racism in a very real way is a white people problem," said Celia Barnes. "And we're not going to get anywhere on this issue if white people don't get involved."

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Throughout the demonstration, cars in rush-hour traffic frequently honked, waved or showed thumbs-ups through car windows in support, far outnumbering the few displays of opposition and providing a sense of hope after the Fellowship's Black Lives Matter sign was stolen yet again last weekend — the fourth time.

Appleton's chapter of Showing Up for Racial Justice, a group for white people working toward racial justice, organized the demonstration that grew to roughly 50 to 70 people. A fifth Black Lives Matter sign has been ordered, the Rev. Leah Hart-Landsberg said.

Many people at the demonstration brought up the importance of educating themselves and others — versus relying on people of color to do so — and standing up against oppression.

"It's taken me a long time to understand how racist the environment was that I grew up in — I grew up in Appleton," said Charles McKee, as he rocked his infant grandson in a stroller on the sidewalk. He urged white people to own the racism, understand it and work to address it.

"The more you know this country, we've done terrible things and we're basically built on the backs of black people," he said. "And anyone who thinks we have justice right now is kidding themselves."

With education comes educated conversation, something else demonstrators called for.

Holding a sign that declared, "Pro-Black Is Not Anti-White," Appleton East High School teacher Lana Thiel said people shouldn't be offended by the phrase "Black Lives Matter." White people often don't acknowledge their white privilege, she said.

People stealing the Black Lives Matter banners, which have been hung aside the Fellowship's main sign since February 2015, may not understand the movement or the experience of being black, and thus may feel threatened, said demonstrator Rose Wasielewski.

Like the previous three times the banners were stolen, the fourth theft came soon after police killings of black men and subsequent protests, as the ongoing national conversation on race flared. Tulsa police officer Betty Jo Shelby was charged with manslaughter in the Sept. 16 killing of Terence Crutcher, who was unarmed. Four days after the Tulsa shooting, Charlotte, N.C., officers shot and killed Keith Lamont Scott, who police say had a gun. For both cities, protests have grown in response.

The Fellowship's sign was stolen for the fourth time late Friday night or early Saturday morning. Many other Unitarian Universalist fellowships have also hung the signs in solidarity, and likewise experienced vandalism or theft, according to the national Unitarian Universalist Association.

Mary Lou Robinson waves to a car Thursday while she and Cathy Thompson hold a sign during a demonstration in support of Black Lives Matter along Calumet Street in Appleton.

Keith Wyland of Appleton is among the demonstrators holding signs Thursday in support of Black Lives Matter outside the Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Appleton. The Black Lives Matter sign outside the Fellowship was stolen for the fourth time over the weekend.

Katherine Lymn: 920-996-7232, or klymn@gannett.com; on Twitter @kathlymn