Prayer Vigil for Jaheem Herrera
First Christian Church Decatur co-hosted a Prayer
Vigil on April 24, 2009, alongside PFLAG, Faith and Community Alliance,
Tabernacle Baptist Church, and Congregation Bet Haverim.
We welcomed over 250 people into our
Sanctuary from across Georgia who came to pay their respects to the late
Jaheem Herrera, 11, who took his own life after excessive bullying from
his classmates in a local elementary school. He told his family he was
teased for being an immigrant and was called gay, who state that they
contacted his teachers and school administrators. We united that night
to pray for his family, his teachers and classmates. We also lifted up a
plea for a lowering of the anti-immigrant and homophobic rhetoric that
has permeated our faith communities. We encouraged adults to be
responsible for their language and influence, and to get involved
legislatively to help protect the civil and human rights of all our
neighbors.
Photo by William Garner of the Prayer Vigil.
A letter published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution on April
31, 2009:
Dear Editor of the AJ-C:
The tragic death of Jaheem Herrera, 11, calls out for
a response from our city’s faith community. We need to say something,
and there is something we need to hear.
The time has come for spiritual shepherds in churches,
mosques, synagogues, and temples to speak out against the xenophobia and
homophobia that permeate our culture. Jaheem's mother has pointed out
that he wasn't really gay (not that it matters); and it's clear that he
was also taunted because of his immigrant status. The anti-gay and
anti-immigrant rhetoric in the public and religious sphere has seeped
into the schoolyard and become bullies' indiscriminate weapons of
choice. We've simply got to make it clear that those weapons are off the
table. We can start by speaking out against prejudice and for
understanding.
Further, people in our midst are hurting and hopeless,
and feel driven away from those called to provide comfort and succor by
judgmental attitudes and lack of tolerance. No matter how many ways we
advertise that “All are welcome,” people will believe otherwise until we
cease evaluating and start listening.
Jaheem bore a heavy burden. Imagine if he knew that
every faith community was there for him, to listen and receive him just
as he is: a child of God.
Respectfully submitted,
James Brewer-Calvert
Sr. Pastor, First Christian Church of Decatur, GA
Lance Helms |
