UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF SARASOTA, 3975 FRUITVILLE ROAD, SARASOTA FL 34232, TEL. 941-371-4974
  • Home
  • Visitors
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Virtual Guestbook
  • Sundays
    • Upcoming Services
    • Directions
    • Previous Services >
      • Making of Virtual Church
    • Music Program >
      • Our Choir >
        • Videos for rehearsal
      • Schedule of Musicians
      • Our hymns
    • Sermon Archive (Pre-Covid) >
      • Sermon Archive 2020
      • Sermon Archive 2019
      • Sermon blog 2019
      • Sermon Archive 2014-2018
      • Sermon Archive 2011-2013
  • Pledge Campaign
  • Our Church
    • Directions
    • Newsletter >
      • Newsletters 2023
    • Calendar
    • Minister and Staff
    • From the Heart of the Minister
    • Rev. Roger Fritts Minister Emeritus
    • Architecture
    • Archives - Church History
    • Art Gallery in Lexow Wing
    • Arts Council
    • Authors' Showcase
    • Board of Trustees
    • Breeze Directory >
      • Breeze Tutorials
    • Brief History
    • Church Documents >
      • Annual Meeting
    • Community Ministers
    • Committees
    • From the Garden Gate
    • Giving
    • Korond Partner Church >
      • Korond Updates
      • The Village of Korond, Transylvania
      • Our Relationship with the Korond Congregation
      • The Ministers and Their Family
    • Members' Corner
    • Member Directory
    • Multimedia Guidelines
    • Scams
    • Thanksgiving Photos
    • UUs in the News
    • Valentines Luncheon
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Zoom
  • Children
    • Religious Education Overview >
      • Nursery
      • Elementary- Faithful Journeys
      • Youth Group- Riddles and Mysteries
    • RE News
    • RE Calendar
    • Photo Gallery >
      • Family Events
    • Meet our Staff and Teachers
  • Social Justice
    • Welcome Justice Seekers
    • Building a Culture of Inclusion
    • UUSC - UU Service Committee >
      • Ukraine response
    • Racial Justice Program >
      • Racial Justice Events
      • Racial Justice Initiatives
      • Manasota Anti-Racism Coalition
      • RJ Glossary
      • RJ Resources
      • The 8th Principle
    • Remembrance Project
    • GREEN TEAM PAGES >
      • Green Solutions
      • Eating Sustainably
      • Veg Restaurants
      • Farmers Markets
    • Reproductive Rights
    • Activist Corner >
      • FedStateLocalContacts
      • Gun Control Activism
    • Community Partners
    • Fair Trade Program >
      • What is Fair Trade?
    • Justice in Action >
      • Get out the vote rally
    • Volunteer
  • Adult Programs
    • Bridge for Fun
    • ChaliceGroups >
      • Sample Session Outlines
    • Cinema Conversations
    • Death Cafe
    • Forum >
      • Forum Archive
    • Garden Crew
    • Great Decisions Group
    • LGBTQ
    • Men's Groups
    • Mindfulness-Based Human Flourishing
    • Tai Chi
    • Women's Book Club
    • Women's Discussion Group
    • Zen Study Group
  • Contact
  • Annual Meeting 2023

Community Remembrance Project

PictureArtist's conception based on a similar sign in Sarasota County
​We are very pleased to report that on Tuesday, October 25th, 2022, the Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota voted to approve a historical marker to be placed on our property, memorializing lynchings in Sarasota and Manatee Counties. This project was initiated by the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) led by Bryan Stephenson, who is the author of the book “Just Mercy.” 

Some individuals have asked why this marker is placed here and not in the African American Community.  Leading organizations in the African American Community asked if we would place this marker on our property. This request was an important factor that influenced the Board. It showed us that our partnerships over the years have built a trust where our Church is seen as an ally to the African American community. Lynchings are a source of great trauma for African Americans, and they are very well aware of their own history.  There is difficulty in gaining permission for placement of markers in public spaces. The leaders of the African American Community felt that our location was ideal, as it provided easy access and parking for educational tours visiting the marker. As well, placement on church property is considered sacred space to hold such profound history. 

"...this should stand as a reminder and monument of what can happen when a community comes together and reconciles itself with its past while looking toward a brighter and more inclusive future."
Why should we accept this marker? Support for racial justice and partnering with the Newtown community has long been an active part of the history of this Church. Our principles call for us to promote peace, liberty, and justice for all. Our partners in the community are asking us to help them educate the larger community about the history of lynching. We believe placing this historical marker on our property is a way to walk our talk and show solidarity with our partners in the African American Community.  The memorial will most likely be erected in the southeast corner of our property along Fruitville Road. We are considering placing some benches near where the marker will be located.

Some have expressed concern that this marker increase risk for the Congregation. There is no way to gauge this.  In one of the Board discussions, Rev. Wolin suggested we make our decision based on our values, not on our fears and the Board concurs.

We believe the marker will bring positive publicity to our Church, that it stands for our values, and will make the broader community aware of those values.

The honorable Charles E. Williams is a circuit judge for the 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida. He is a highly respected community leader who is usually found working behind the scenes to bring people together and advance projects that promote equity and help the arts and culture to flourish in Sarasota.   Judge Williams was instrumental in bringing community partners together to form the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition and serves on the boards of Embracing our Differences, The Community Foundation of Sarasota County, The Boxser Diversity Initiative and the Board of Trustees for Florida Studio Theatre.   He has been an eloquent advocate for bringing the Equal Justice Initiative's Community Remembrance Project to Sarasota. Upon hearing of the Board’s decision, he wrote:

"That is great news and please express my sincere appreciation to your congregation.  When these acts of terror were done it was hoped then by the perpetrators that no one would care about them or would remember them. Your act of faith has proved them wrong and honored the memory of these victims. Instead of just a memorial about what happened this should stand as a reminder and monument of what can happen when a community comes together and reconciles itself with its past while looking toward a brighter and more inclusive future.  I see this night as an uplifting moment in our community and could not be prouder.”

For those of you who are interested, The Remembrance Project will be the topic of a Forum on Sunday, November 6th. [Read more about this forum on our Upcoming Services page.] 

Rev. Jay Wolin
Bill Payton, President, Board of Trustees
​Members Corner
Weekly CONTACT Newsletter
Church Calendar
Upcoming Services
Religious Education for Children and Youth
Serendipity Auction
​Social Justice
Green Team Pages
Art Gallery in Lexow Wing
Our association: the UUA
Find other UU congregations
Copyright © 2022 All Rights Reserved. Links are encouraged. Contact Admin for permission to publish.
Contact info:
3975 Fruitville Road, Sarasota FL 34232
Tel. 941-371-4974
Office hours are 10am to 2pm Tuesday - Friday

Click here for more contact information...
Thank you to our many volunteers who contribute to this website.
Most have no prior web editing experience. Weebly makes this easy, which is why
​we recommend Weebly to non-profits dependent on volunteers. Read more at Introduction to Weebly...