FOUNTAIN — When demonstrations demanding justice for George Floyd started here in Colorado Springs, News5 sat down with members of the Southern Colorado Ministerial Union, who said they stand in solidarity with those protesting.
Pastor Kevin Troy Daniels Sr. of the New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church in Fountain is also the president of the union. Pastor Daniels first gave a speech, addressing what he sees as systemic racism in America. "Justice is impossible when the hearts of those who administer it, our government, sees citizens unworthy of justice. Enough is enough. We have sons, we have son-in-laws, we have grandsons, we have young men in our churches that deserve justice... It's time for America to be courageous enough to move beyond dialogue and to move to action... I leave you with these final words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," said Pastor Daniels.
Pastor Daniels said the union has around 20 churches that are members. He said it is time for the nation to eradicate racism and police brutality. "At the end of the day, because we are citizens of what we call the greatest country in the world, the negativity impacts us all," said Pastor Daniels.
Pastor Daniels' son, Kevin Daniels Jr., also spoke with News5. Daniels Jr. said watching black men and women dying without getting justice makes him wonder what his life is worth, so he called on political leaders to make real changes. "We also have to rely on the leadership of our cities, our states, and the leadership of our country, to be in support of that as well, to make sure that what we say and what we do, promotes unity, promotes love, promotes compassion, and that's for all of our country... Because things will continue to get worse if we don't address it and bring change to a broken system, and bring healing to broken people," said Daniels Jr.
Jordan Kinches, another pastor's son, also discussed how he feels when talking about racism with his white counterparts. "When I look at my white friends, or my white friends do come up to me, and ask me how do I feel about this situation, I kind of keep my mouth shut because I don't want to feel like I'm offending them, but I'm offended every day," said Kinches.
Daniels Jr. said change starts by educating the youth. "Racism is taught, it does not happen from birth. Racism is taught, and if we educate our kids on what love is, that's what our future is. If we educate our youth on what the meaning of love is, that's what our future will have in it," said Daniels Jr.
The protests in Colorado Springs continued peacefully on Sunday night. A 10 p.m. curfew was put into effect on Wednesday, and will be reevaluated on Monday morning by the mayor, who will decide whether or not to extend it.
