Tubman's Life Continues to Serve as an Inspiration

"I freed a thousand slaves I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves." —Harriet Tubman

Freedom fighter, Union spy, Underground Railroad Conductor and Social Justice Organizer, Harriet Tubman is commanding our attention even 100 years after her death. The opening box office success of the film, "Harriet," which narrates her life commitment to human rights advocacy and social justice, demonstrates an urgency for knowledge, action and change — the core values of Community Renewal Society.

Tubman's life continues to serve as an inspiration for disrupting systems of oppression and decrying the evils of our society that may even be protected by the state. We are called to be fearless in our actions and share in the spirit of Tubman's resilience and resistance to systemic injustices that uphold systems of white supremacy. She was fearless in her mission to serve humanity and to affirm human dignity. In the spirit of this mighty warrior, we are in solidarity with the Justice 4 Laquan collective to address the civil rights violations Laquan McDonald suffered at the hands of Jason Van Dyke. We join the collective in calling for the filing of federal civil rights charges against Van Dyke and invite the community to participate in a call to action by calling the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois asking the same.

We are grateful for our member congregations and partners that were on standby and willing to serve alongside CRS at the negotiation tables if called upon in the Chicago Teacher Union's strike. Many of our congregations and partners were on the picket lines. They opened their doors to provide meals and activities to Chicago Public School students. We recognize the great sacrifice made by teachers, students and their families to take to the streets to call for equitable, just and safe schools for our children. We celebrate the voices of students that boldly spoke truth to power!

As we prepare for the winter and holiday season, we would like to know how your congregation or organization is showing up in the community. Let us know how you are immersed in service in your community this winter (soup kitchens, food drives, homeless count, warming centers, etc.) so we may help spread the word. Let us know what you are doing, what you need and how the community may show up in solidarity. Email us at info@communityrenewalsociety.org.

We are CRS because of your commitment to eradicating injustices everywhere. We are CRS because of the embodied Tubman Spirit of service, wisdom, faith and a Beloved Community calling us all to action.

"I had reasoned this out in my mind,
there was one of two things I had a right to, liberty or death;
if I could not have one, I would have the other." —Harriet Tubman