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BEVERLY Approximately 200 people attended a ceremony Sunday dedicating a Black Lives Matter banner at the First Parish Church. But speakers said its what happens next that really matters.

That banner is going to be the smallest step in a larger process by this congregation, First Parish minister Rev. Kelly Weisman Asprooth-Jackson said. Its got to be or it wont be worth anything.

Members of the church, located in the heart of downtown Beverly on Cabot Street, voted in January to join other Unitarian Universalist churches across the United States in displaying a Black Lives Matter banner. The church held a ceremony on Sunday to dedicate the banner, which has been up on the front of the church for two weeks.

The speakers included Martin Henson, an activist with Black Lives Matter Boston. Henson questioned whether hanging the banner was just your five-hour activism for the day or whether it will be followed by a long-term effort to end racism and inequality.

I am not free. My people are not free, Henson said. The question Im going to leave for you is, What are you going to do about it?

City Councilor Estelle Rand said the banner represents another effort by Beverly to address human rights, including a recent forum on immigration policy and last weeks School Committee vote to establish the Beverly Public Schools as a sanctuary district.

It has been an amazing two weeks in Beverly for human rights, Rand said. I feel that we as a community have reached a critical mass of support for exposing things that keep people down.

Staff writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2675 or pleighton@salemnews.com.

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Church dedicates Black Lives Matter banner - The Salem News