By Lisa Dunson and Elijah Zehyoue
Today, we stand in deep mourning and righteous anger as on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, we witnessed the state-sanctioned lynching of Marcellus “Khalifah” Williams in Missouri. This execution is a painful reminder of the racial injustice and systemic oppression that continues to plague our nation. The deeply flawed and racially biased case against Williams reflects a long and harrowing history where the lives of Black men have been disproportionately targeted and devalued by our justice system.
Despite evidence casting significant doubt on his conviction, Marcellus Williams was denied justice—an injustice rooted in systemic racism that criminalizes Black bodies and ignores the truth when it threatens the status quo. His execution is not just a failure of our legal system; it is the perpetuation of a legacy of violence, dehumanization, and disregard for Black life.
As people of faith, we cannot be silent. We must name this for what it is: a modern-day lynching. Our hearts grieve, but our souls cry out for justice. We lift up Marcellus’s name, knowing that God’s love and mercy were with him even in his final moments. And we also lift our voices against the racist structures that led to his murder and recommit ourselves to the long struggle for a world where justice and equality reign.
As people of faith, we cannot be silent. We must name this for what it is: a modern-day lynching. Our hearts grieve, but our souls cry out for justice. We lift up Marcellus’s name, knowing that God’s love and mercy were with him even in his final moments. And we also lift our voices against the racist structures that led to his murder and recommit ourselves to the long struggle for a world where justice and equality reign.
The systemic racism that undergirded Marcellus’s case is not an isolated incident—it is part of the fabric of a legal system designed to protect power, not people. We demand that the lives of Black men, women, and children be valued equally, and we call for a transformation of the justice system that continues to perpetuate violence against marginalized communities.
As followers of Christ, we are called to be peacemakers, but peace without justice is no peace at all. We urge our community, our leaders, and our nation to confront the racism embedded in our institutions, to hold accountable those who perpetuate this violence, and to work tirelessly toward a world where the dignity of every person is honored.
Marcellus Williams deserved justice in life. In his memory, we commit to the ongoing work of justice in his name and for all who suffer under the weight of systemic racism.
In solidarity and prayer,
Rev. Lisa Dunson, President, and Rev. Elijah Zehyoue, Ph.D, Co-Director
The Reverend Lisa Dunson is the President of the Alliance of Baptists Executive Committee and is a member of the Ministerial Team at Covenant Baptist UCC. She also serves as Co-Chair of the African American Women in Ministry (AAWIM) Global Engagement Committee and on the Executive Committee for the Potomac Association AAWIM.
Reverend Elijah R. Zehyoue, Ph.D. serves as the Co-Director of the Alliance of Baptists. In this role, he is leading them through an effort to become an anti-racist organization. As a historian, theologian, pastor, preacher, and professor, Elijah is committed to using his many gifts to help people of all walks of life do the head, heart, and soul work required for our collective liberation. He is a graduate of Morehouse College (B.A.) and the University of Chicago (M.Div.) and Howard University where he earned his Ph.D. in African History. His dissertation focused on White Supremacy and its impact on the Origins of the Conflict in Liberia. Additionally, Elijah teaches African and African American Studies at the university level. Prior to coming to the Alliance, Elijah served on the pastoral staff at Calvary Baptist Church in Washington, D.C. Elijah is originally from Liberia, West Africa and grew up in Baton Rouge, La.
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