The Legacy of Jonathan Daniels ’61 In , a group of roughly two Daniels is now listed in the Episcopal book Heeding Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s call, dozen people, some of them members of the of contemporary for his actions. After Daniels headed to Selma, Alabama, to by Rich Griset, Contributing Writer Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Daniels’ death, Martin Luther King Jr. said, for equality. Afterward, Daniels and a friend were arrested for picketing whites-only stores “One of the most heroic Christian deeds of missed their bus back north. At that point, in Fort Deposit, Alabama. Jailed in the nearby which I have heard in my entire ministry was Daniels decided to stay in Alabama and con- town of Hayneville, they refused to accept bail performed by Jonathan Daniels.” tinue his social justice work. unless all members of the group were freed. Despite the traumatic event, Sales continues However, it was through his field work in After spending six days incarcerated, the her work for social justice through her non- impoverished areas of Providence, Rhode group was released suddenly and without profit, the SpiritHouse Project. The nonprofit Island, as a seminarian that Daniels saw his transportation back to Fort Deposit. has Jonathan Daniels and Samuel Younge fel- first glimpse of social justice ministry. This is As someone called for a ride, the August sun lows, typically college interns, working for it. where the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island beat down on the group. Four of the activists In a world where law enforcement sometimes chose to build on Daniels’ legacy, returning decided to purchase soft drinks at a nearby targets minorities, Sales says that in some to help underserved areas of Providence. store they knew served non-whites. ways, things haven’t changed over the past The Jonathan Daniels House was created as “The pavement was steamy ... We were hot, 50 years. “We lived [then] in a climate in the a place for the diocese to play a role in the tired and thirsty,” recalled Ruby Sales, one of south that is very similar to what we live in type of social justice ministry Daniels took the four. “It was hot in a way that it can only today,” Sales explained. part in during his life. The house is part of be hot in the south.” Daniels’ journey to Alabama came from his the Episcopal Service Corps, a network of The others were Joyce Bailey, Father Rich- sense of duty to others. Born in Keene, New over 30 similar programs across the country. ard F. Morrisroe and Jonathan Daniels ’61. Hampshire, he graduated as valedictorian of The Episcopal Church once operated several Before they could reach the store, they were VMI’s Class of 1961. Daniels briefly attended parishes in the capital city’s most impover- halted by Tom Coleman, an unpaid special before deciding to pursue ished area, South Providence – one of which deputy sheriff. A pistol rested on Coleman’s the ministry. In 1963, Daniels began his stud- Daniels worked in – but both eventually hip, and in his hands was a 12-gauge shotgun. ies at the Episcopal Theological School in closed over the years. The establishment of “He was waving the shotgun and threatening Cambridge, Massachusetts. the Jonathan Daniels House signals a return to to kill us,” Sales remembered. “[He] threat- “Jon was a gentle man,” recalled Rev. Da- the church’s social justice ministry in the city. ened to kill me, because I was in the front vid Ames, a seminary classmate of Daniels’ “This is very much what Jonathan Daniels and in the most danger. Jon pulled me, and I who is now retired from full-time ministry did,” said Rev. Linda Grenz, the Rhode Island tripped, and he was shot,” she said, recalling in Rhode Island. “He was studious. He was diocese’s canon to the ordinary. “It’s sort of the horrifying moment. “...Tom Coleman certainly committed to his understanding of living and working in the same environs that didn’t stop at that. He fired at Father Mor- theology and the mission of the church ... he did when he was in seminary and working risroe, who was holding Joyce Bailey’s hand.” He was a very likable guy; a very open and in Cambridge.” Morrisroe was severely wounded in the supporting person.” Founded in fall 2014, the Jonathan Daniels back during the altercation, and Daniels was Though friendly, Ames remembered Dan- House aims to house young men and women killed instantly. Even with these serious of- iels as a young man with very firm opinions. who are devoted to social justice issues. The “...That’s what makes it so incredible – when ordinary humans fenses, Coleman was only charged with man- “He felt very strongly that Northern liberals interns are required to spend at least 35 hours slaughter. Richmond Flowers Sr., Alabama’s should not just go down and march then not per week engaged in advocacy and social ser- step outside and do unordinary and heroic things.” attorney general, was thwarted by the trial do anything,” says Ames. “He was moved vice work for underprivileged communities. judge and later removed from the case when very strongly to go back. He took a leave of In its first year, the house supported two he tried to have the charge changed to murder. absence from seminary to go down there and interns, both women in their early 30s. The judge also refused to wait for Morrisroe’s work on voter registration. “We find agencies that are prepared to host recovery, which would have allowed him to “The year before he did that, 1963-64, he was interns, offer them basically full-time jobs, testify in the case. on a fieldwork assignment here in Providence, then match the intern to the position being Coleman claimed self-defense against the and he worked out of the cathedral building offered,” said Grenz. “One [intern] is working four unarmed people he met in the parking in Providence on race relations.” in an organization that serves mothers with lot Aug. 20, 1965. The all-white jury found Ames said even against the backdrop of children who are coming in off the streets Coleman not guilty and he was acquitted. a tumultuous time in America’s history, and transitioning into housing. She’s prepar- Flowers described the verdict as “democratic Daniels’ death had a profound effect on their ing them to find housing, to find work, to be process going down the drain of irrationality, seminary class. oriented.” bigotry and improper law enforcement.” “[President John F. Kennedy Jr.] had been The other worked in an urban arts program, Sales barely spoke for several months after murdered, Jon was murdered, Martin Luther pairing teenagers with working artists in men- Daniels’ murder. “He saved my life,” she said. King Jr. was murdered, Bobby Kennedy was tor relationships. Appointments last for an “He was very committed, but he was not an murdered,” said Ames. “It was a time of great academic year, running August through June. angel or a saint. What made him so wonder- strife in our culture, and what it said to us as a The diocese hopes to eventually expand the ful was that he was an authentic human being class – and there were 52 of us in our seminary project to support four members. with incredible strength ... That’s what makes class – really brought us together in a rather “It comes out of this desire to honor the it so incredible – when ordinary humans step cohesive way and gave us a sense of needing church’s work in Providence, as well as hon- outside and do unordinary and heroic things.” to make a difference.” or the work of Jonathan Daniels himself,”

10 Jonathan Daniels ’61, left, in Alabama in April 1965. Photo courtesy VMI Archives. Vmi Alumni Review 2015-Issue 3 11 explained Rev. Gillian Barr, executive director of the Jonathan Daniels House. “We are trying to continue his commitment to living and serving alongside those who are living along the margins; helping young adults grow in their spiritual lives and understand the connection between their spiri- tual life and looking for justice in the community.” The project was located in a three-bedroom apart- ment during its first year, but it will relocate to a former parish rectory in fall 2015. The diocese’s goal is to have a long-term rental situation set up in Providence. Barr stressed the interns can come from any back- ground of beliefs. “You don’t necessarily have to be an active Christian to be in the program,” said Barr, “but the program is done from a Christian spiritual perspective and includes worship, prayer and faith-based learning. You have to live in that for a nine-month period.” To honor his legacy and continue in the work he gave his life for, the Diocese of Rhode Island wants to keep social justice ministry going. “Jonathan Daniels’ life was transformed even by his initial work here in Providence,” says Grenz. “It was him as a young adult working with people in the streets on two levels; working with people who were poor and had many needs and also working across racial lines. It’s very clear that’s what encour- aged him to take the stand he did in the with him being martyred.” “What we’re doing is creating a house where other young people can walk in his footsteps ... where they can also have that transformative expe- rience by serving those in need and taking a stand against racism and advocating for racial justice.”

Daniels with Rachel West in Selma, Alabama, in 1965. Photo courtesy VMI Archives.

12 Vmi Alumni Review