WSFA 12 News Montgomery, AL |Some Offended by Black and White Unity Crosses

Some Offended by Black and White Unity Crosses

What started as an effort to unite people of different colors is now dividing people of different faiths. The 'One Movement' was founded to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Montgomery bus boycott.

The goal is to promote unity among the races. But the way it's being promoting has some people concerned.

When Robert Avant put a black and white cross in front of his apartment, his intentions were pure.

"To me, it just looked like a chance to bear witness to racial harmony," he said.

It wasn't until after someone took down the cross that he realized the symbol's potentially polarizing affects.

"I came out and found someone had taken the cross and, as an insult, turned it upside down and backward and faced it to the wall," Avant said.

First Baptist Church, a predominantly white congregation, and Fresh Anointing International Church, a predominantly black congregation, are spearheading the movement. Their goal is to make 10,000 black and white crosses as a sign of racial reconciliation.

The movement is designed to coincide with the city of Montgomery's celebration of the boycott anniversary which begins next month.

"What does that look like from a Jewish perspective or a Muslim perspective to see 10,000 crosses?" asked Rev. Elizabeth O'Neill.

O'Neill is the pastor of Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Montgomery. She says the cross is the wrong the symbol. She points out that people of other faiths were also partners in the boycott and she worries that they are being excluded.

"It feels much more to me like an evangelistic crusade than a community celebration," O'Neill said. She also points out that crosses in yards used to be burned by the Ku Klux Klan to promote racial discrimination.

Avant says, after what happened to his cross, he's beginning to understand the dueling perceptions. So from now on, he's not taking any chances.

"I'm not here to offend anyone. I just took everything off of my patio and brought it into my house," he said.

The pastors of First Baptist Church and Fresh Anointing International Church point out that none of this was ever intended to offend.

And Rev. O'Neill says, as a Christian, she wouldn't have had a problem with the crosses if they were designed to celebrate a Christian event. But she says the boycott anniversary is a city-wide celebration that should include all faiths.

The controversy has sparked the formation of a new organization designed to promote religious tolerance. It's called the Montgomery Interfaith Alliance. Members are expected to make an official announcement concerning the new group in the coming days.

Reporter: Mark Bullock