Congregants and local supporters of Lighthouse Church of Chicago held a vigil and peaceful march Dec. 18 to protest against police chokeholds and other forms of police violence.
The Lighthouse Church of Chicago was founded in 2013 by Pastor Jamie Frazier, an out gay African American minister, with the goal of creating a church, which is open to people of all races, sexual orientations and gender identities.
The small group gathered at Glessner House Museum to hear from Pastor Frazier and other speakers addressing racism and racist systems in the U.S. They did a prayer for the families of Eric Gardner "and others that have suffered police brutality." They then marched to the Chicago Police District station at 18th and State streets.
"Over the last few weeks there have been calls to end chokeholds as a practice of detainment by police due to the unfortunate and unnecessary death of Eric Gardner," the church stated in advance of the event. "As a congregation that is passionate about the person and message of Jesus, the Lighthouse Church of Chicago is serious about the seeming lack of justice and absence of accountability demonstrated by our justice system. Throughout the country there has been increased attention and outrage around police brutality and lack of indictment of said brutality against men and women of color. From Michael Brown to Eric Gardner, there must be renewed trust and fairness. The Lighthouse Church of Chicago will continue to highlight such injustice and call for peace as directed in the teachings of Jesus."
