NPR NEWS
Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to SC culminates Sunday
The Faith and Politics Institute will lead a bipartisan Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina on March 18-20, 2016. A delegation of up to three dozen members of Congress will take part in a journey that explores the unique role of faith and the civil rights history of South Carolina.
Jim Clyburn, Tim Scott lead congressional S.C. civil-rights pilgrimage
A bipartisan congressional delegation launched a civil rights tour of South Carolina on Friday, kicking off events at the Zion Baptist Church in Columbia.
Pilgrimage will give Congressional leaders closer look at SC’s faith, civil rights history
Friday is the start of a three-day Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina, exploring the role of faith and civil rights history in South Carolina.
A bipartisan delegation of 14 Congressional members, led by Democratic U.S. House Rep. Jim Clyburn and Republican U.S. Sens. Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham, all of South Carolina, and U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, will visit historical sites in Columbia, Orangeburg and Charleston as part of the event, presented by the Faith and Politics Institute. In all, about 200 will be part of the pilgrimage – students, seminarians, local leaders and faithful annual pilgrims.
MEDIA ADVISORY | Bipartisan Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina March 18-20
MEDIA ADVISORY March 17, 2016
Bipartisan Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina March 18-20
Explores Legacy of Civil Rights & Impact of Charleston Shooting on State & Nation
WASHINGTON – The Faith and Politics Institute’s 2016 Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina will take place from March 18-20 making stops in Columbia, Orangeburg and Charleston. A bipartisan delegation of 14 members of Congress, including leaders from both political parties, will be led by U.S. House of Representatives Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (D-SC), U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and civil rights movement icon U.S. Representative John Lewis (D-GA).
The pilgrimage will explore the unique role of faith and the civil rights history of South Carolina. The delegation will also discuss the impact of the 2015 shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church on the community, South Carolina and nation. Local leaders in Columbia, Orangeburg and Charleston, survivors of the tragic shooting and family members of the victims will participate in the pilgrimage, which culminates in a Palm Sunday worship service at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.
MEDIA AVAILABILITIES
Media briefings will be held each day. Events are otherwise closed to press and public. For security purposes, media should arrive early to receive credentials. RSVP to josh.taylor@faithandpolitics.org. In case of rain, alternate locations will be utilized.
BACKGROUND
The spirit of forgiveness and grace exhibited by family members of those killed at Charleston’s Emanuel AME Church June 17, 2015 temporarily transformed the political dynamics surrounding race, history, and historical memory in South Carolina and across the nation.
How can appreciation of such grace lead to sufficient political will for an equally transformative and sustained public response expanding racial healing and reconciliation in America today? The Faith & Politics Institute’s 2016 Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage comes to Charleston seeking a hopeful and encouraging answer to that question.
In the wake of the massacre, the faith and courage demonstrated by the survivors, members of the victims’ families and the Mother Emanuel AME church allowed the nation to witness the power of love and forgiveness, which holds open the door to increased understanding and reconciliation.
On this special journey, many who led the civil rights movement and lived its history will lead efforts to support effective government by bringing members of Congress together in a spirit of openness, honesty and reconciliation across lines of race, religion and political affiliations for the purpose of working together in service to our nation and the world.
A bipartisan congressional delegation of fourteen members will also listen to the stories of civil rights luminaries, religious leaders and historians. Participants will also learn about South Carolina civil rights pioneers such as Septima Clark and about the 400-year old Gullah Geechee cultural heritage. The delegation is scheduled to visit such historic sites as Zion and Brookland Baptist Churches and that of the Orangeburg massacre where three students were killed on February 8, 1968 while demonstrating against segregation.
Since 1998, The Faith and Politics Institute has led annual bipartisan Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimages to five southern states affording hundreds of members of the U.S. House and Senate an experiential journey through the American civil rights movement as well as international trips. Described by some members as one of the most valuable experiences of their time in Congress, the bipartisan pilgrimages offer opportunities for engaged and reflective dialogue that transcends politics.
For more information, contact The Faith and Politics Institute at (202) 546-1299 or email info@faithandpolitics.org. For media queries, please email josh.taylor@faithandpolitics.org.
Visit The Faith and Politics Institute at www.faithandpolitics.org and on Twitter and Facebook.
Lawmakers To Visit Charleston To Promote Racial Reconciliation
Democrat Rep. Jim Clyburn and Republican Sen. Tim Scott, both of South Carolina, are among several lawmakers visiting Emanuel AME church to promote racial understanding.
STATEMENT | Statement from Ms. Joan Mooney, President and CEO of The Faith & Politics Institute About The Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 18, 2016
Statement from Ms. Joan Mooney, President and CEO of The Faith & Politics Institute About The Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina
WASHINGTON – The Faith and Politics Institute released the following statement from President and CEO Joan Mooney:
"We are looking forward to the pilgrimage to South Carolina this year and the unique civil rights history we will experience there. The pilgrimage offers members of Congress an opportunity to move beyond the polarization of Washington and to strengthen their political leadership by achieving greater personal understanding through meaningful dialogue with their colleagues and deep reflection.
"While great strides have been made to begin to heal the racial divisions and injustices of the past, the 2015 Charleston massacre is a heart-breaking reminder that there is much more work to do as we strive for that more perfect union envisioned by the founders of this great nation."
The Faith and Politics Institute will lead a bipartisan Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina on March 18-20, 2016. A delegation of up to three dozen members of Congress will take part in a journey that explores the unique civil rights history of South Carolina visiting Columbia, Orangeburg and Charleston and listening to the stories of civil rights luminaries, religious leaders and historians.
For more information, contact The Faith and Politics Institute at (202) 546-1299 or email info@faithandpolitics.org. For media queries, please email josh.taylor@faithandpolitics.org.
Visit The Faith and Politics Institute at www.faithandpolitics.org, Twitter and Facebook.
PRESS RELEASE | Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina March 18-20
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 18, 2016
Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina March 18-20
Delegation to Explore Civil Rights History in Journey Toward Reconciliation with Stops in Columbia, Orangeburg and Charleston
WASHINGTON – The Faith and Politics Institute will lead a bipartisan Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina on March 18-20, 2016. A delegation of up to three dozen members of Congress will take part in a journey that explores the unique role of faith and the civil rights history of South Carolina. The pilgrimage will make stops in Columbia, Orangeburg and Charleston and listen to the stories of civil rights luminaries, religious leaders and historians.
U.S. House of Representatives Assistant Democratic Leader Jim Clyburn (D-SC) and U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) along with Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and civil rights movement icon U.S. Representative John Lewis (D-GA) will co-host the pilgrimage the weekend of March 18-20, 2016. Participants will learn about South Carolina civil rights pioneers such as Septima Clark and about the 400-year old Gullah Geechee cultural heritage.
The delegation is scheduled to visit such historic sites as Zion and Brookland Baptist Churches and that of the Orangeburg massacre where three students were killed on February 8, 1968 while demonstrating against segregation. Participants will also discuss the impact of the 2015 Charleston killing, and the reactions of the victims’ family members on the community, South Carolina and nation. The pilgrimage culminates in a Sunday worship service at the historic Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.
The murders of nine people of faith at Mother Emanuel AME church in Charleston is a cornerstone of the pilgrimage that will connect participants to the ongoing conversation of racial healing and reconciliation in America today. In the wake of the massacre, the faith and courage demonstrated by the survivors, members of the victims’ families and the Mother Emanuel AME church allowed the nation to witness the power of love and forgiveness, which holds open the door to increased understanding and reconciliation.
On this journey, many who led the civil rights movement and lived its history will lead efforts to support effective government by bringing members of Congress together in a spirit of openness, honesty and reconciliation across lines of race, religion and political affiliations for the purpose of working together in service to our nation and the world. The leaders of the pilgrimage will hold media briefings during the course of the weekend.
Since 1998, The Faith and Politics Institute has led annual bipartisan Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimages to five southern states affording hundreds of members of the U.S. House and Senate an experiential journey through the American civil rights movement as well as international trips. Described by some members as one of the most valuable experiences of their time in Congress, the bipartisan pilgrimages offer opportunities for engaged and reflective dialogue that transcends politics.
For more information, contact The Faith and Politics Institute at (202) 546-1299 or email info@faithandpolitics.org. For media queries, please email josh.taylor@faithandpolitics.org.
Visit The Faith and Politics Institute at www.faithandpolitics.org and on Twitter and Facebook.
NPR | On Being | Interview with Congressman John Lewis
NPR “On Being With Krista Tippett” | January 15, 2015