Unitarian Universalists march in support of Heritage Days event
Unitarian Universalists celebrate 10th anniversary by “standing on the side of love”
Spectators along the parade route at Saturday’s Penn Center Heritage Days parade cheered as Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort (UUFB) members marched in support of the celebration, a community event showcasing the cultural heritage of the Gullah people with this year’s theme “Lest We Forget”.
Unitarian Universalist involvement with the Gullah community began in 1862 when Laura Towne, a Unitarian community leader from Philadelphia, founded Penn School on St. Helena Island to educate the freed slaves on the sea islands that compose most of Beaufort county.
The school became Penn Community Center in the 1960s, the place where Martin Luther King Jr. wrote portions of his I Have a Dream speech.
The Reverend Nan White, UUFB minister, established her office at Penn Center in 2003, a reflection of the strong relationship that exists between the Unitarians and the center. In its 10th anniversary year, the UUFB brings the Standing on the Side of Love campaign to Beaufort.
Standing on the Side of Love is a public advocacy campaign that seeks to harness love’s power to stop oppression. It is sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Association and all are welcomed to join.
The Standing on the Side of Love campaign elevates compassionate religious voices to influence public attitudes and public policy concerning immigrant status, race, religion, gender and sexual orientation, ability level, or political view.
“We’re here today to show our support for our friends, our community and our future. We’re marching today to Stand on the Side of Love–no person should face discrimination or be denied equality because of his or her identity, so we’ve come to make our voices heard.”
Penn Center Heritage Days on St. Helena Island
Related posts:
- Penn Center Heritage Days on St. Helena Island
- Penn Center Heritage Days on St. Helena Island
- Letter to editor: Closing island roads for Heritage Day is dangerous
- 92-year-old Rufus Chapman joins local heritage group
- Penn Club Grand Reunion: A St. Helena Homecoming highlights Labor Day weekend
