Rev. Michelle Walsh

I have known Chuck Turner for over 17 years, long before he became a Boston City Councilor.  Chuck has always been an inspiration to my faith in community organizers and politicians.  I have known him always to be an honest and decent human being who cares passionately about his community and has a keen sense of justice.  I have found him to be a wise, compassionate, humble, and firm advocate for those with less privilege in our society.

I could always count on Chuck to pause, listen, and help youth and families when I most needed him to in my urban ministry program for many years.  There were infinite opportunities for Chuck to let ego sweep him away - but I never saw that happen in all of my years with him.  He was faithful and devoted and humble to his core in all of his expressions.  As a UU minister who supports the worth and dignity of each person, on principle, we must support and advocate for a stand of innocent until proven guilty.  Too many people in our society are tried in the media or otherwise assumed to be guilty until proven innocent.  I am disturbed deeply to see this happen time and time again.  I am also disturbed to hear ministerial colleagues (across faith traditions) downplay the depth to which racism and classism still exist in our society because we have finally (and wonderfully) elected an African American president - that somehow it is time to take a ‘new tone’.  Granted, some progress has been made which should be rightly celebrated.  But, by far, this does not mean we have surmounted tendencies in our society to make sweeping judgments against others based on group membership - and for innocent people to drown in these prejudices.  And let us not forget, the gaps between the haves and have nots are huge and growing in our society, and these gaps disproportionately impact on people of color.  Yes, I think racism and classism are still thriving, despite our current successes. And I do believe that it is time for more ministerial voices to speak out on these issues and to take a firm stand on the primary issue of innocent until proven guilty.  There is another court besides human opinion.  Amen.  Blessed Be.

Rev. Michelle Walsh, Mission Hill, Tuckerman Creative Ministries for Justice (UU)