No place for hate - healthcare no matter what
January 11, 2020
WELCOME:
Good morning, everyone. I am the Rev. Cynthia Robinson, pastor of the New Ark United Church of Christ. I’m also one of the members of Clergy for Choice, an interfaith group of clergy from Wilmington, Newark, and beyond that works with and supports the mission of Planned Parenthood of Delaware.
Welcome to this rally of solidarity with Planned Parenthood of Delaware. The city of Newark is no place for hate. Today we join together to affirm the mission of Planned Parenthood: Care no matter what. No matter your gender identity or gender expression. No matter whether you have health insurance or not. No matter who you are, you can receive care at Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood of Delaware is here to stay!
A big thank you to Rep. Paul Baumbach for getting this response together, to all of our speakers for taking time out of their weekend to be here, and to Ruth Lytle-Barnaby, President and CEO and the staff of Planned Parenthood of Delaware, especially Sharmarla McCoy, Public Affairs Manager who’s keeping us on track. We have many speakers this morning and we also have to be out of the building by 11:30 a.m. because another church congregation will be here to rent this building after 12 p.m. So I ask that those who are speaking to keep their comments to 3-4 minutes. If a preacher can do it, so can you.
If anyone needs to use the restroom, restrooms can be found in Wells Hall on the left side of the room. Please make yourselves comfortable while you are here.
Chant: Healthcare is…No place for hate!
Speakers
Rep. Paul Baumbach
Ruth Lytle-Barnaby, President and CEO, PPDE
Kathy Jennings, DE Attorney General
DE Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester letter
Sen. David Sokola
Kelly James – UD student
Sharon Hughes – Newark Councilwoman
Sen. Laura Sturgeon
Matt Meyer – New Castle County Executive
Rev. Cynthia Robinson
BECOME A PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF DELAWARE PROTECTOR
Donate
Op-Ed
Volunteer
Social Media and Website
#Noplaceforhate
#Carenomatterwhat
#Healthcarenomatterwhat
#PPDEstrong
Email, call, fax your state and local representatives
When I read the article in the Newark Post about the acts of violence and vandalism at the Planned Parenthood clinic here in Newark, one of my first thoughts was “Who radicalized this boy?!”
Who taught him that he should be fearful of other people’s choices regarding their own healthcare?
Who capitalized on that fear and whipped it into anger?
Who captured that anger and warped it into hate?
Who manipulated that hate and convinced this 18 year old boy that an act of terrorism was the only way to assuage his suffering?
Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.
These are fearful times, and so this can happen to anyone. It can happen to those who build walls and to those who tear them down. It can happen to those who are terrified of diversity and to those who embrace diversity. We must be careful that as we fight the monsters of injustice and evil that we do not become monsters ourselves in the process; that we not dehumanize an 18 year old boy or those who radicalize our children.
Author and poet James Baldwin wisely wrote, “I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.”
We must be willing to engage our pain and the pain of others.
We must be willing to sit with our fear and go to the places that frighten us.
We must be willing to keep our hearts soft even as we use our anger as fuel for justice.
We must be willing to not allow hate to take up any space within us that could be used for love.
If anything about us is to be radicalized, let it be love.
If anything about us is to be radicalized, let it be compassion and kindness.
If anything about us is to be radicalized, let it be inclusion.
If anything about us is to be radicalized, let it be perseverance.
For our struggle is for healthcare for everyone, no matter what.
It is also a struggle that is nothing short of the transformation of the heart of this nation.
For light is stronger than darkness.
Truth is stronger than lies.
Goodness is stronger than evil.
Love is stronger than hate.
Matt Meyer – New Castle County Executive
Rev. Cynthia Robinson
BECOME A PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF DELAWARE PROTECTOR
Donate
Op-Ed
Volunteer
Social Media and Website
#Noplaceforhate
#Carenomatterwhat
#Healthcarenomatterwhat
#PPDEstrong
Email, call, fax your state and local representatives
When I read the article in the Newark Post about the acts of violence and vandalism at the Planned Parenthood clinic here in Newark, one of my first thoughts was “Who radicalized this boy?!”
Who taught him that he should be fearful of other people’s choices regarding their own healthcare?
Who capitalized on that fear and whipped it into anger?
Who captured that anger and warped it into hate?
Who manipulated that hate and convinced this 18 year old boy that an act of terrorism was the only way to assuage his suffering?
Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.
These are fearful times, and so this can happen to anyone. It can happen to those who build walls and to those who tear them down. It can happen to those who are terrified of diversity and to those who embrace diversity. We must be careful that as we fight the monsters of injustice and evil that we do not become monsters ourselves in the process; that we not dehumanize an 18 year old boy or those who radicalize our children.
Author and poet James Baldwin wisely wrote, “I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.”
We must be willing to engage our pain and the pain of others.
We must be willing to sit with our fear and go to the places that frighten us.
We must be willing to keep our hearts soft even as we use our anger as fuel for justice.
We must be willing to not allow hate to take up any space within us that could be used for love.
If anything about us is to be radicalized, let it be love.
If anything about us is to be radicalized, let it be compassion and kindness.
If anything about us is to be radicalized, let it be inclusion.
If anything about us is to be radicalized, let it be perseverance.
For our struggle is for healthcare for everyone, no matter what.
It is also a struggle that is nothing short of the transformation of the heart of this nation.
For light is stronger than darkness.
Truth is stronger than lies.
Goodness is stronger than evil.
Love is stronger than hate.
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