“But let justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.”
Amos 5:24
In the aftermath of the tragic killing of George Floyd, EquaSion developed a new program to address racial injustice through interfaith involvement. Its plan is to organize and unite Cincinnati’s diverse communities of faith into a moral force that will take action, individually and collectively, privately and publicly, spiritually and materially, to advance the cause of racial justice through sacred activism, including education, dialogue, community-building, and advocacy for policies and legislation which remediate systemic inequities. To date, more than 30 religious and faith-based organizations representing many of our community’s world religions have become AMS Participants (see link below for a full list).
We welcome the participation of faith-based organizations of all traditions in Greater Cincinnati.
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Read the op-ed from Chip Harrod, EquaSion’s Executive Director, in the Cincinnati Enquirer: Marching for justice on MLK Day displays compassion through action.
Please join EquaSion’s A Mighty Stream and march for racial justice on MLK Day.
Monday, January 16 – meet at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center at 10 AM. (Look for the AMS banner.)
10:30 AM 48th annual Commemorative March begins outside of the Freedom Center
12 PM MLK Day Commemorative Program in-person at Music Hall or watch the program online at www.mlkcoalition.org.
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Getting Involved
Organizations wishing to participate in AMS:
Informational Brochure
Pledge form
Advisory Board Members
Our Participants: (to date)
We, the religious and faith-based organizations listed below, have ADOPTED and STAND UNITED behind the Resolutions of A Mighty Stream:
AMS Participating Religious and Faith-based Organizations (to date)
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Recent event – Taft Lecture Series: : “We are Called to Be a Movement”
Nearly 700 people attended The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II lecture on October, 24, 2022. Barber’s remarks, which drew numerous parallels (lessons) between today’s social-political chaos and historical including biblical events, emphasized how society’s “rejected” peoples must take the lead once again to restore the moral values of our country. The “left-outs and oppressed” must take direct, collective action to reclaim our troubled nation from those whose only interests are personal power and gain. “Our times call for another moral fusion movement, when all of our marginalized peoples come together to assert their basic needs, indeed their rights, to health care, a living wage, affordable housing, access to government, a clean and safe environment, and justice under our criminal legal system,” Barber said. His hour-long lecture was insightful, challenging, and inspiring, and earned him a standing ovation.
AMS Race & Faith Educational Resources
To launch A Mighty Stream’s community education component, EquaSion in conjunction with our community’s spiritual and civic leaders is sponsoring two webinar series: one focusing on racial inequities in a variety of quality of life systems, and the other on the perspectives of our diverse faith communities on racial justice.
- Cincinnati Racial Justice Educational Resources and Programs, compiled by Nina Emlemdi
- Cincinnati’s Racial Past, authored by Mark Curnutte (with permission)
- Our Shared Language, compiled by Tammy Bennett, Esq.
- Race and Racism in Cincinnati: A 3-Part Video Series – “the telling of Cincinnati’s history from the racial margins,” produced by the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center.
Racial Inequities Series:
“Racial Inequities in our Criminal Legal System” (aired on March 3rd) View the Video Recording
“Racial Inequities in our Health Care System” (aired on May 6th) View the Video Recording
Faith Perspectives on Racial Justice Series:
“Faith Perspectives of the Roman Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and National Baptist traditions”. View the Video Recording
Faith Perspectives of the Episcopal, Buddhist, Native/Indigenous, Non-Denominational Christian, and Baha’i traditions
View the Video Recording
Faith Perspectives of the Hindu, Lutheran, Zoroastrian and United Methodist traditions.
View the Video Recording
Faith Perspectives of the Presbyterian, Unitarian Universalist, Quaker, and United Church of Christ perspectives.
View the Video Recording
Race Discussion Guide
Access the A Mighty Stream Race Discussion Guide here.
**AMS Sacred Activism ALERTS**
An important aspect of the AMS program is its promotion of volunteer opportunities for the interfaith community (AMS Participants) to engage in sacred activism for racial justice, which includes advocating for policies and legislation which remediate systemic inequities. It informs its Participants via the issuance of “AMS Sacred Activism ALERTS.” The general public is invited to join the AMS Participants in participating in the advocacy opportunities noted below.
Previous Sacred Activism Alerts: