“Whatever affects one of us directly, affects all of us indirectly.”

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter - News Analyst

June 4, 2020

Pastor Granardo Felix addresses the FBCC. City Manager Dale Martin in background.

Following a long tradition, Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) meetings begin with a Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America followed by an invocation.  The City Clerk maintains a list of churches and organizations that wish to deliver invocations, thereby providing an opportunity to those interested on a rotating basis.

Pastor Granardo L. Felix of Trinity United Methodist Church , 715 Ash Street, Fernandina Beach, delivered an invocation and a timely message at the June 2, 2020 meeting.

He said, “One of the early attributes of racism is to dehumanize another human being, thus detaching oneself from their significant heritage and ancestry which in our case originated in Africa.  The recent, senseless events involving murders of many unarmed black men by law enforcement  epitomizes that fact.  Last week George Floyd was asphyxiated on the street in Minneapolis by a Minnesota police officer, who had a knee on his neck for over a minute and some odd seconds.  This should be deeply troubling to each and every one of us, regardless of race.  Standing in solidarity with brothers and sisters of different ethnicities in our community is the first step towards a peaceful solution to what we see going on in the world today.  While feelilng the emotion of anger is understandable, I do not condone the violence or the vengeful retaliation that is occurring.”

Pastor Felix went on to say that African Americans are over represented in incarcerations and under represented in the political process.  “I hope we can work together to overcome our mistakes,” Felix said and quoted the late Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. who said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny."

“Whatever affects one of us directly, affects all of us indirectly,” Felix said, quoting King.  He concluded his remarks with a call to God to “keep us from making wrong judgments about those who suffer afflictions or who have been overtaken by the challenges of poverty.”  He called for compassion for those who feel unloved, alone or uncared for

“We pray that Your best justice will prevail in each of our lives,” he said.

Mayor John Miller thanked Pastor Felix for “very important words at a very important time."  Towards the end of the FBCC meeting, the Mayor also asked commissioners and the audience to join him in 8 minutes and 43 seconds of silent reflection over the death of George Floyd and its aftermath.