AACTUP
African American Clergy Tackling Unjust Policies
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Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor... Isaiah 1:17
The Lazarus Law and Justice Project is a nonprofit Christian based organization. We are committed to organizing a Black clergy-driven racial justice movement to confront and dismantle the forces of white supremacy threatening Black progress. Inspired by the courage and determination of Black clergy and abolitionists who fought to end slavery and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) that spearheaded the Civil Rights Movement to defeat Jim Crow, our mission is clear: to protect justice, equality, and democracy for future generations.
Our movement is focused exclusively on racial justice. We do not advocate for LGBTQ+ issues or reproductive rights. We hold that the Bible does not affirm homosexuality or abortion. We see the Black family as the cornerstone of our community and support the traditional family structure. Our commitment to God’s righteousness is as strong as our commitment to His justice. At the same time, we affirm that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity, love, and respect.
Why This Movement Matters
Donald Trump, MAGA, and their allies are orchestrating a coordinated effort to reverse decades of civil rights progress through Project 2025. This agenda seeks to undermine protections for marginalized communities, restrict voting rights, and implement policies rooted in white supremacy. These policies not only threaten African Americans but also imperil the fabric of our democracy.
The struggles we face today mirror those of the Civil Rights Movement. Figures like Bull Connor, Jim Clark, Lester Maddox, and George Wallace symbolized the overt racism of their time, enforcing segregation and violently suppressing the fight for equality. While their faces have changed, their white supremacy ideologies persist. Modern-day leaders continue to promote systemic racism through policies and rhetoric that echo the segregationist playbook of the 1960s. This enduring legacy underscores the need for vigilant and united resistance.
Black clergy have historically mobilized communities, inspired direct action, and partnered with advocates to challenge oppression. Today, this leadership is more critical than ever. By combining some of the old tactics of the past civil rights movement with new methods and resources like social media, we will challenge and dismantle structures of oppression threatening our freedoms.
A Biblical Foundation for Justice
Justice and righteousness are foundational to God’s Kingdom. The Bible calls us to action and to be a voice for the voiceless.
Psalm 89:14 declares, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.” This verse reveals the nature of God’s Kingdom as rooted in justice and righteousness. Our movement is driven by this divine balance, ensuring that our efforts reflect God’s standard of fairness and moral integrity. Justice without righteousness risks becoming self-serving, while righteousness without justice fails to address systemic wrongs. Together, they form the cornerstone of our vision for a more equitable society.
Isaiah 1:17 says “Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor, Obtain justice for the orphan, Plead for the widow’s case.” This verse highlights the duty to stand for those who are marginalized and defenseless, aligning perfectly with our mission to challenge systemic racism and inequality. It says to rebuke the oppressor. At LLJP, we embrace this call to action by defending the rights of the vulnerable and advocating for systemic change.
Proverbs 31:8-9 Here we are commanded to “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice..” These verses underscore the importance of advocacy. Our work is a modern application of this mandate—giving voice to communities silenced by oppression and advocating for policies that reflect fairness and dignity for all.
Confronting White Evangelicalism
The error of the evangelical world is to downplay justice issues while highlighting righteous issues, such as abortions and homosexuality.
Our Vision For AACTUP
Scripture instructs us on how to handle the vision the Lord gives us. It says:
“Write down the vision And inscribe it clearly on tablets, So that one who [b]reads it may run. 3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It [c]hurries toward the goal and it will not [d]fail. Though it delays, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay long..
So, we envision AACTUP helping to create African American neighborhoods where justice, dignity, and equality are not mere aspirations but realities. By mobilizing clergy, community leaders, legal professionals, and citizens, we will:
- Build a powerful, unified, national civil rights movement.
- Create sustainable solutions to systemic racism and inequality.
- Empower communities to stand against oppression and advocate for change.
Our Values
Our core values define us and guide our actions. They are grounded in a Biblical worldview, recognizing that God created everyone in His image. LLJP’s values are as follows:
- Justice: Fairness and equity.
- Dignity: The inherent worth of every individual.
- Economic Equality: A society where wealth is not concentrated in the hands of a privileged few, but where everyone has equal access to opportunities and resources needed to thrive.
The Threat of Project 2025
Project 2025 represents a dangerous blueprint to dismantle civil rights protections and further entrench systemic racism. It promotes:
- Restricting Voting Rights: Tactics aimed at silencing marginalized communities.
- Rolling Back Anti-Discrimination Protections: Weakening workplace and housing protections.
- Expanding Police Powers: Reinforcing systems disproportionately targeting African Americans.
- Attacking Public Education: Eliminating culturally relevant curricula and opportunities for Black students.
- Eroding Equity Initiatives: Targeting DEI programs, disparate impact policies, and other essential tools that promote fairness and equality.
- Propagating anti-wokeness: Terminating federal employees who embrace fairness and justice for all Americans and replacing them with MAGA loyalists.
These Project 2025 policies are designed to strip away vulnerable communities’ civil rights and freedoms. They demand a coordinated and determined response.
What You Can Do
Everyone has unique talents, skills, and abilities. Although we are all different, we all can engage and “do something” to promote racial justice in our nation. Below are some of the ways you can participate:
- Mobilize: Participate in events, protests, and demonstrations.
- Educate: Share our mission and resources with your community.
- Donate: Support our legal fund and advocacy initiatives.
- Advocate: Contact your representatives and demand policies that protect civil rights and democracy.
- Organize: Lead or participate in local chapters of our movement to expand our reach and impact.
Concluding Words
The Lazarus Law and Justice Project stands at the crossroads of history. Guided by biblical principles of justice and righteousness and inspired by past Black clergy led movements, we are determined to protect civil rights, defend democracy, and create a society rooted in fairness and equality. Today’s challenges remind us that the spirit of Bull Connor and George Wallace lives on, but so does the courage of Rev. Dr. King, Medgar Evers, John Lewis, Rev. Joseph Lowery, etc.
Together, we will rise to the challenge. Together, we will shape the future.