BURKE COALITION FOR RECONCILIATION

Better Together

BCfR Goals

  • Confederate monument moved

  • Elected officials and community leaders become actively engaged in racial equity/racial reconciliation

  • Pro-actively build a community of love, justice and reconciliation

OUR HISTORY

Establishment of BCfR

In 2020, the Burke County community watched as the historic courthouse square - the central gathering place of our community - was being renovated. The community witnessed an extraordinary amount of money spent on renovating the courthouse area to make it more welcoming to community members and visitors, yet it became clear that leaders were keeping a symbol of white supremacy and hate on this central gathering place. 

It seemed such a contradiction.  How can Burke County welcome and invite all to an area that is dominated by an unwelcoming symbol for so many people?

In January 2021, one speaker addressed the county commissioners with concerns about this monument during public comment of their monthly meeting. This person was the sole speaker during the commissioners’ public comment. During the next month, three more speakers agreed to join in asking community leaders to move this confederate monument and to lead the Burke County community in honest, respectful dialogue about the racial history of Burke County.

In March 2021, what would eventually be named, the Burke Coalition for Reconciliation (BCfR), had about 75 people address the commissioners and ask them to move this monument.  Burke Coalition for Reconciliation (BCfR) has had speakers at every monthly commissioners meeting since January 2021.    

BCfR speakers have been respectful, articulate and honest about Burke County’s history and the pain, terror and damage this monument inflicts on our community and its citizens. The group has also organized churches to “adopt a month” in order to bring faith community leaders directly into dialogue and into the chambers of the decision makers in our community.  BCfR is not about shaming anyone for the past; it is about how this community can respectfully and lovingly move forward.

BCfR meets on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 5:30 before the county commissioners meeting.

Click here to hear some of BCfR’s speakers. 

Sign up below if you would like to be included on BCfR’s email list or learn other ways to get involved.