Rev Jimmie R Hawkins speaks with other faith leaders at a press conference responding to the US President Donald Trump administration’s policies in Washington, DC, on 15th May, 2017. PICTURE: Ray Chen/Office of Public Witness, PC(USA)
Black clergy, standing in the shadow of the US Capitol, declared that US President Donald Trump is not living up to his promise of being the “greatest champion” for the nation’s African-Americans.
At a news conference on Monday in front of the United Methodist Building, leaders of congregations and denominations called on fellow African-Americans to speak up and urged Congress to vote down proposed plans by the new administration that they believe help the rich and hurt the sick and the poor.
Rev Barbara Williams-Skinner, co-chair of the National African American Clergy Network, cited proposed budget plans that will hinder the progress of children in public and charter schools and Justice Department plans that would especially put African-Americans at risk of stricter mandatory sentences.
“The very survival of fellow Americans depends on members of Congress and those in the administration exercising the backbone that is supposed to be part of their leadership,” she said.
The church officials countered Mr Trump’s campaign question – “What do you have to lose?” – to African-Americans.
“We are indeed in trouble, we are indeed losing,” said Rev Leslie Copeland-Tune, director of the Ecumenical Poverty Institute, who criticized the administration’s plans to cut nutrition programs for the poor.
“Every statistic shows that these policies will negatively impact African-Americans, poor people, the elderly and the most vulnerable among us. But we refuse to be silent. These policies are not OK.”
Rev Jimmie R Hawkins, executive director of the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Office of Public Witness, said the black clergy would like to meet with Mr Trump and discuss ways to improve job opportunities, protect voting rights and work to reduce racial divisions in the nation.
And Rev Hawkins had one more request of the president: “Stop tweeting,” he said. “Brother, get yourself a good night’s sleep. And if you can’t stop, tweet some good news for the country. We could sure use it.”
