Rev. Barber Wants America to Accept Life: Choosing Hope Over Death

On September 15, Bishop William J. Barber II reiterated the biblical truth from Ecclesiastes 1:9 during a significant broadcast. This date marked not only a regular Moral Monday event but also the 62nd anniversary of the tragic 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, which claimed the lives of four young girls—Addie Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley. The Moral Monday movement, spearheaded by multiracial clergy and community figures, persists in its quest for justice against oppressive laws. Participants this year linked their calls for justice to the shadows of Birmingham’s racial violence and present-day issues like poverty and health care cuts. Rev. Dr. Hanna Broome highlighted the importance of virtual gathering to amplify voices against injustice. With reflections from various clergy, including apprehensions about federal budget cuts affecting vulnerable populations, the call for social action was clear: advocate for democracy and engage actively on National Voter Registration Day, as the struggle for justice continues.