The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Faithful mark holy day
25th anniversary of Holy Day of Atonement honored in service
Faith and community leaders came together on Oct. 17 commemorating a 25th anniversary of the Holy Day of Atonement and calling for an end to racial and economic disparities that continue to impact so many.
The theme for 2020 is “All Human Life Matters – Black Life is Sacred” and addressed issues of racism, police brutality, domestic violence, and disparities in education and healthcare in Lorain.
With the novel coronavirus pandemic still impacting the country, the ceremony was conducted over video-conference with most presenters broadcasting from First Lutheran Church at 1019 W. 5th St. in Lorain.
Organizer Imam Paul Hasan said there was a need for a new vision so young black men can see that their life matters and that they will be treated as dignified human beings.
In 400 years since the start of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade that brought scores of black people to the United States, Hasan stressed, the country now must re-think the sacredness of black life that has been demeaned and dehumanized.
“But we say that black life is sacred because black life, ever since we were brought here, was never ever treated as a sacred creation of God,” Hasan said.
Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley reflected on his more than 40 years as an attorney, noting that even the Supreme Court of the United States, the highest court in the land, has made its share of mistakes that de-valued the rights of African-Americans, alluding to Plessy v. Ferguson and Dred Scott v Sandford.
“I’m in government now, but everybody deserves a seat at the table. Andwehave to fight to make sure that we get that seat at the table. And that’s why the Million ManMarch was important. That’s why it’s important to honor the Day of Atonement and to remember that where there’s darkness, there can also be light.” — Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley
Those two landmark cases further codified institutionalized racism in the United States, Bradley said.
“I’m in government now, but everybody deserves a seat at the table. And we have to fight to make sure that we get that seat at the table.
“And that’s why the Million Man March was important. That’s why it’s important to honor the Day of Atonement and to remember that where there’s darkness, there can also be light,” Bradley said.
Bradley presented two mayoral proclamations in recognition of the 25th anniversary of the Holy Day of Atonement, and in honor of Hasan for his 25 years as an imam and dedication in the community to inter-religious understanding and addressing issues impacting black youth.
“On behalf of the citizens of Lorain I would like to thank him for his many years of service, and for making the world a better place, not only for us, but for those in the future, Bradley added.
The Holy Day of Atonement marks the anniversary of the 1995 Million Man March in Washington, D.C. and the local annual ceremony is the longest running in the state of Ohio, organizers said.