VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – As protests calling for justice continue both nationwide and in Hampton Roads, people gathered at a local church Wednesday night to participate in a unique ceremony promoting unity and healing.
News 3 was there for a foot washing ceremony outside the Rock Church in Virginia Beach. Pastors from around Hampton Roads gathered at the church.
Foot washing is a biblical ceremony representing when Jesus washed the feet of his 12 disciples.
First, the African American pastors had their feet washed by the other pastors; then, they reciprocated the gesture.
Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer spoke to the crowd before the event.
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“This defines the heart and soul of Virginia Beach. We have the faiths coming together, we have races coming together, we’ve got different people coming together. They’re going to do a foot washing for each other to show humility,” Mayor Dyer explained. “But this is about community; this is about unity. This is about not tolerating injustice in Minneapolis or any other place.”
Demonstrations against racism and police brutality have been taking place across the country and in local cities after the recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery.
The lead pastor and organizer said this was a very last-minute event and added that for the next time, they would like to do it with a lot more people.
