Twenty-three faith leaders issued a plea to the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) on Monday calling for a pause on the school closures and mergers so that an equity analysis centered on Black and Brown Oakland children can be conducted.

The articles of the plea and signing clergy are below:

We, Faith Leaders of Oakland, believe that it is our duty to bring a moral voice to the debates before our community. Currently, one of the most urgent debates in our city surrounds the Oakland Unified School District’s decision to close and merge a number of the schools, and these mergers and closures will disproportionately impact Black and Brown children.

It is our prayer that the District and community can begin to navigate this issue in a manner which teaches our children right from wrong.

This debate has been wrenching. We understand that these decisions and policies are complicated. We believe that the way in which this debate is carried out should represent our values as it instructs our children how they should act.

We understand that violence takes place when our children are miseducated; when decisions are made without transparency or a fair and just process; when a community is disregarded and disrespected, when systemic racism is allowed to persist. All of these things are unjust and unacceptable. They must cease.

We understand that, in recent days, members of the OUSD Board have experienced vandalism to their properties and threats of violence to their persons. This is unjust and unacceptable. It must cease.

We, hereby, issue an urgent call on the OUSD administrators and Board to show respect to the students, parents, guardians, families, community groups/organizations and faith communities.

We believe that OUSD can shift this debate and help set a moral tone. To that end we call for the following:

1. An independent equity analysis, centered on Black and Brown children, of any/all school mergers, consolidations, and/or closures;
2. An equity analysis of all budgeting decisions, centered on Black and Brown children, to include results-based recommendation to achieve equitable outcomes;
3. A pause on the mergers, consolidations, or closures until the equity analysis referenced in 1 and 2 above have been completed.

We ask that everyone refrain from personal and physical attacks, threats and/or any form of intimidation. This is unjust and unacceptable. It must cease.

The highest values of our faith traditions call for the respect of all persons, the creation of structures that are just and equitable, collaboration instead of coercion, healing where wounds have been inflicted. We trust that our proposals, as well as our prayers, reflect these values.

Respectfully,

Rev. Dr. Jim Hopkins, Pastor, Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, Oakland

Pastor Michael W. Wallace, Senior Pastor, Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church and Member of Impact Oakland Now (ION)

Rev. Dr. George Cummings, Pastor, Imani Community Church, Oakland and CEO Faith In Action East Bay

Pastor Zachery Carey, Senior Pastor, True Vine Ministries and president of Impact Oakland Now (ION)

Bishop Kevin D. Barnes, Senior Pastor, Abyssinian Missionary Baptist Church, and member of Impact Oakland Now (ION)

Bishop Keith L. Clark, Senior Pastor, Word Assembly Church, and member of Impact Oakland Now (ION)

Rev. Dr. Rodney Smith, Pastor, First African Methodist Episcopal Church, Oakland, CA., and member of Impact Oakland Now (ION)

Pastor Brondon Reems, Senior Pastor, Center of Hope Church, and member of Impact Oakland Now (ION)

Pastor Maria Reems, Co-Pastor, Center of Hope Church, and member of Impact Oakland Now (ION)

Presiding Elder Harold R. Mayberry, Oakland- San Joaquin District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church

Rev. Anthony L. Hughes, MDIV., Senior Pastor, St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church

Rev Dr Hugh K Wesley, Senior Pastor, St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church, San Jose CA,

Rev. Loretta Y. Dickerson-Smith, Pastor, Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal – San Francisco

Pastor Todd Wheelock, Senior Pastor, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, and president of the Baptist Minister’s Union

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