Religious Leaders Support Congresswoman Maxine Waters

Columnists, Kim's Kronicles — By Kim Webster on July 6, 2018 at 8:28 pm

By Kim Webster

On Monday July 2, Pastor Shane B. Scott of the Macedonia Baptist Church was joined by a coalition of religious and community leaders during a press conference in support of Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA). Congresswoman Waters has been receiving death threats and harsh commentary from the White House and Trump supporters for speaking out on several issues; most recently the separation of immigrant children from their parents. Pastor Scott spoke about the “atmosphere of divisiveness” created by the Trump administration, the travel band that discriminates “against religious freedom,” and “lawmakers who ignore implementing reasonable gun laws to stop mass shootings.” He also spoke about the Zero Tolerance Immigration Policy and the Supreme Court’s validation of Trump’s Travel Band. “Congresswoman Maxine Waters is courageously raising her voice to lead the fight in the Democratic Party to maintain the moral fiber of this country,” said Pastor Scott.

Pastor Francine Brookins Esq. of Bethal AME Church in Fontana CA demanded, “the reunification of families who were cruelly and unnecessarily separated from their parents by the Trump Administration’s racist Zero Tolerance Immigration Policy,” also saying these practices are “reminiscent of the days of slavery when it was legal for families to be ripped apart and sold for others to profit.” Pastor Brookins equated the cries of the parents for their children with the cries of the parents of children being gunned down by police on a daily basis. Rev Dr Peter Laarman spoke about violence to people, truth and the human community and “White supremacist violence.” “Now we have a President who exemplifies all of that openly and encourages it in every form,” said Rev Dr Laarman. These factors have resulted in the “harassment” and threats to Congresswoman Maxine Waters. Rev Dr Laarman expressed that members of the “Republican Party and Congress of the United States” are doing nothing about this and should be held “accountable.” Former Pastor of Holman Methodist Church Kelvin Sauls equated “policies played out on the borders” as a repeat of policies toward Native Americans and the establishment of Interment Camps. Bishop Noel Jones said, “all Christians” should stand up and protest policies that separate families.

“I am proud to stand here and support a four decade soldier in the fight for peace and justice,” said Dr Pastor John Cager, Ward AME Church & Pres. of the LA Counsel of Religious Leaders, “Maxine don’t sit down and don’t shut up!”