LOCAL

Congregation to raise BLM banner after theft

Ethan Safran, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

APPLETON - Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will hang its third "Black Lives Matter" banner on Friday afternoon, following the theft of its second banner last weekend.

Rev. Kathleen Rolenz, senior interim minister with the fellowship, said the ceremony will take place at 5:30 p.m. There will be an indoor gathering prior to a brief ceremony outdoors.

"Our faith tradition has had a long history of racial justice advocacy," she said.

Rolenz said the theft is likely related to a pair of recent high-profile police shooting deaths of black men in Baton Rouge and St. Paul. She said the first banner was vandalized and later stolen last fall. The vandalized banner was changed to "All Lives Matter" from "Black Lives Matter."

"What that does is dilute the fact that, in this country, black lives have not mattered, and there is plenty of evidence to demonstrate that there has been systemic disregard for black and brown people."

Rolenz said the "predominately white" 700-member congregation is not anti-police but, alongside other institutions, wants to see police reform.

"We understand all lives matter," she said. "I will say 'All Lives Matter' when black lives matter. So far, there hasn't been a lot of evidence to that effect."

Rolenz said the congregation is encouraging both fellowship and community members to attend the Friday event.

"Hopefully, (the ceremony) will dispel myths and misconceptions about why we hang the banner," she said.

Ethan Safran: 920-996-7267, or esafran@postcrescent.com; on Twitter @EthanSafran