MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY
January 18, 2021
A CALL TO END WHITE SILENCE

"We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people."

Martin Luther King, Jr., 1963, Letter from a Birmingham Jail

To mark the national Martin Luther King holiday this year in Bennington we are extending an invitation to join together to "End White Silence." There are three ways for you to participate:
Hyperlinks available at www.greaterbenningtonpeaceandjusticecenter.org

Ring A Bell
At 6 pm on January 18, we are asking all those who are concerned about racial equity in our community to go out on your porch or in front of your home with a lit candle (or a flashlight if it's too windy) and a bell (or bang a pot!) as a sign of your commitment to stand up and speak out for racial equality in our community. Video tape your "ringing" and post the videos/pictures to your preferred social medial account with the hashtag #BennMLKRing so community members can share with other who care about equality in Bennington.

Watch "I Am from Here" and Join a Discussion
"I Am from Here" is a 30-minute National Education Association film of interviews with high school students of color in Vermont. It is a compelling tale of their experiences in a state that is mostly comprised of persons of European descent. The film is free and available on Vimeo. Follow this link https://vimeo.com/288449454 or type the title in the search box and choose the one by Bess O'Brien. There will be a discussion of the film at 7 pm on Martin Luther King Day, January 18. If you want to participate in the discussion, please follow this link to register for this Zoom event https://www.eventbrite.com/e/martin-luther-king-jr-day-celebration-ending-white-silence-tick[...]ail.
You may watch the film anytime between now and the beginning of the discussion on January 18. You will receive a Zoom link two days prior to the event.

Learn More About Racism in Ourselves and Our Community
To End White Silence, we first must learn more about the realities of current day racism in ourselves and our community. Throughout 2021, the Greater Bennington Interfaith Council and the Greater Bennington Peace and Justice Center will be offering several educational and action opportunities to support personal learning about racism and to help undo systemic racism in our community. If you are interested in being on the email list for these opportunities, please email here: info@greaterbenningtonpeaceandjusticecenter.org and mention "anti-racism notices please."

The best way to honor Martin Luther King's legacy is to commit to continue the struggle for racial equity here in our own community.