SMU Coalition to Sponsor Day of Prayer for Racial Healing

DALLAS (SMU) – A Southern Methodist University-based coalition is calling the Dallas community to a day of prayer for healing from social injustice, racism, racial profiling and stereotyping on Sunday, June 28.  The “Breath of Life” event, sponsored by an alliance of student, faculty and administrative organizations at SMU, will be held in two parts:  at 10 a.m. on Southern Methodist University’s Dallas Hall lawn (3225 University Blvd., Dallas, TX. 75205); and at 1 p.m. at the Dallas City Hall (1500 Marilla Street, Dallas, TX. 75201). 

A series of prayers will be led by student leaders at each venue, with addresses from community leaders and elected officials.

The vision for the gathering was cast by Barbara Taylor and Maxwell Urbina, graduate student leaders from Perkins School of Theology.

“When I heard Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson call on Dallas to be a ‘city of prayer,’ I knew we needed to take action as a community,” Ms. Taylor said.  “This event will focus on egalitarian prayers for healing from repeated injustices against Black African Americans and all marginalized persons.”

Participants will gather beginning at 9 a.m. on the lawn south of Dallas Hall at SMU. The program will be held from 10 to 11:40 a.m. Parking will be on Bishop Boulevard. Please click here for parking map and note parking on the boulevard (gold oval) is approved for the inside lanes only and away from the fire hydrants. Route information for the caravan of vehicles from 11:45 to 1 p.m. to City Hall will be distributed at the event and a route map can also be found here. 

SMU police will escort the caravan to I-75 and the Dallas Police will escort the group from I-75 to City Hall.

Following the arrival of participants from SMU, the City Hall prayer event will begin at 1 p.m.  City Hall parking is available on-site or at nearby parking lots.

Participants are asked to observe safe social distancing practices, to wear a mask and to bring food, water and chairs for care and convenience. 

For the latest information, see the event page on the SMU Perkins Facebook account. 

Sponsors include Perkins School of Theology-Southern Methodist University; Perkins Black Seminarians Association; Perkins Student Association; Perkins L@s Seminaristas; SMU Office of the Chaplain and Religious Life; SMU Black Faculty and Staff Association; Hillel at SMU; South Dallas/Fair Park Faith Coalition; Interfaith Council of Thanks-Giving Foundation; and Faith Forward Dallas at Thanks-Giving Square.