Bloomberg Campaign Press Release - African American Faith Leaders Respond to Donald Trump's Attack on Mike Bloomberg

NEW YORK — This morning, Mike Bloomberg met at his campaign headquarters with over 20 African American leaders within the faith community to discuss Mike Bloomberg 2020's faith outreach program led by Rev. Alisha Gordon. Just before this prescheduled meeting began, Donald Trump and his campaign took to their social media platforms to spread lies about Mike and his record. In response, the African American faith leaders in the meeting issued the following joint statement:

"While Donald Trump was calling Mike Bloomberg a racist, Mike was continuing his conversation with African-American clergy from around the country. He expressed regret over his past insensitivity regarding policies like stop and frisk and showed a continued interest in restorative justice. To be clear: None of us believe that Mike Bloomberg is a racist. Actions speak louder than words, and Mike has a long record of fighting for equality, civil rights, and criminal justice reform."

Attendees at the meeting included:
Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and Executive Director, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
Reverend Dr. Alphonso R. Bernard, Pastor of the Christian Cultural Center Megachurch in Brooklyn, New York
Reverend J. Edgar Boyd, Pastor and CEO of the First African American Episcopal Church of Los Angeles, California
Bishop Darryl Brister, Second Presiding Bishop in the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International
Reverend Dr. Calvin Butts, Pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City, New York
Reverend Dr. William Curtis, Senior Pastor of Mt. Ararat Baptist Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Reverend Que English, Senior Pastor of The Bronx Christian Fellowship Church in The Bronx, New York
Reverend Dr. James Forbes Jr., Senior Minister Emeritus of The Riverside Church in New York City, New York
Reverend Dr. Kevin Johnson, Founding Lead Pastor of Dare to Imagine Church, Inc. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Reverend David Isom, Pastor of the St. Stephen CME Church in Fairfield, California
Reverend Claybon Lea, Jr., Pastor of the Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Fairfield and Suisun City, California
Reverend George Parks, Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas
Reverend Dr. James Perkins, Pastor of the Greater Christ Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan
Dr. Phillip L. Pointer, Sr., Senior Pastor of the Saint Mark Baptist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas
Reverend Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, Senior Pastor of the Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, New York
Reverend Shane Scott, Senior Pastor of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Los Angeles, California
Reverend Dr. Maurice Watson, Senior Pastor of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Largo, Maryland.
Reverend Dr. Ralph West, Senior Pastor of The Church Without Walls in Houston, Texas