Rev. Stephen A. Green, Chair, Faith for Black Lives

Press Advisory
(917) 557-6872
communications@faithforblacklives.com

TWENTY-FIVE FAITH LEADERS LAUNCH HUNGER STRIKE FOR
VOTING RIGHTS ON ANNIVERSARY OF INSURRECTION

January 7, 2022 — A coalition of twenty-five faith leaders from across the nation launched a hunger strike on the first anniversary of the insurrection, January 6, 2022 to urge Congress to protect democracy by passing voting rights legislation by Martin L. King, Jr. Day on January 17, 2022.

Inspired by the “big lie”, the violent insurrection on January 6, 2021 was an attempt to overturn democratic rule in the United States. This attempt continues across the nation as 19 states passed 34 laws impacting the right to vote, specifically targeting communities of color. States enacted laws to reduce early voting, restrict access to absentee ballots, and seize control of non-partisan election administration official functions. In addition, extreme partisan gerrymandering threatens access to Black political representation in state and federal elections for the next decade.

“As faith leaders, we are called to speak truth to power and to raise the conscience of this nation through moral resistance”, said Rev. Stephen A. Green, Chair, Faith for Black Lives, “this hunger strike reflects our deep commitment to radical love in action to redeem the soul of this nation. As we approach midnight for our democracy, the United States Congress must act urgently to pass voting rights legislation by Martin L. King, Jr. Day on January 17, 2022.”

Hunger Strikers for Voting Rights

1. Rev. Stephen A. Green, Chair, Faith for Black Lives, New York, NY
2. Rev. Traci Blackmon, Associate General Minister, United Church of Christ, Washington, DC
3. Rev. Cornell William Brooks, Professor, Harvard Kennedy School, Director, William Trotter Collaborative, Former President/CEO, NAACP, Cambridge, MA
4. Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant, Pastor, New Birth Cathedral, Atlanta, GA
5. Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, Pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, IL
6. Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III, Pastor, Friendship-West Baptist Church, Dallas, TX
7. Rev. Dr Cassandra Gould, Executive Director, Faith Voices, St. Louis, MO
8. Rev. Dr. Lanel D. Guyton, Presiding Elder, Brooklyn-Westchester AME District, Brooklyn, NY
9. Pastor Timothy Findley, Jr., Pastor, Kingdom Fellowship Church, Louisville, KY
10. Rev Renita Green, Pastor, Holy Trinity AME Church, Wilberforce, OH
11. Rev. Rodrecus M. Johnson, Jr., Pastor, Anderson Chapel, Killeen, TX
12. Rev. Dr. Lenny Marshall, Pastor, St. Philip AME Church, Tallahassee, Fl
13. Rev. Derrell Wade, Pastor, Macedonia AME Church, Suffolk, VA
14. Rev. Dr. Caesar Roland Richburg, Pastor, Bethel AME Church, Columbia, SC
15. Rev. Dr. Jonathan L. Weaver, Pastor, Greater Mt. Nebo AME Church, Mitchellville, MD
16. Rev. Rickey C. Dennis, Jr., Pastor, Mt. Nebo AME, Awendaw, SC
17. Rev. Redeem Robinson, Community Pastor, All Souls Movement, Los Angeles, CA
18. Rev. James Wesley Dennis III, Pastor, Pine Grove AME Church, Columbia, SC
19. Rev. Rashad Moore, Pastor, First Baptist Church of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, NY
20. Rev. Dr. Roy Jones, Jr., Executive Pastor, Saint Philip AME Church, Atlanta, GA
21. Rev. Devon Crawford, Director, William Trotter Collaborative, Harvard Kennedy School
22. Rev. Eugene Minson III, Executive Minister, St. Luke AME Church, Harlem, NY
23. Rev. Darien Jones, Pastor, Moncks Corner AME Church, Moncks Corner, SC
24. Rev. Mary Newton, Pastor, Lee Memorial AME Church, Fort Washington, MD
25. Prophet Bryce Graham, Anointed House of Prayer Ministries, West Palm Beach, FL

DR. GAIL C. CHRISTOPHER URGES PARTICIPATION IN

JANUARY 18 NATIONAL DAY OF RACIAL HEALING

The 6th Annual Event Seeks to Inspire More Equity in Communities

WASHINGTON – Dr. Gail C. Christopher, executive director of the National Collaborative for Health Equity (NCHE), urges individuals, organizations and the private sector to participate in the 6th Annual National Day of Racial Healing (NDORH) on January 18. She calls on America to “stand up” for the belief that racism can be defeated and cites the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) framework as an inspirational approach to achieve that objective.

Dr. Christopher, one of the nation’s leading advocates for racial healing, believes the National Day of Racial Healing is an important component in dismantling the belief in a hierarchy of human value that fuels racism. She was instrumental in launching NDORH as a Senior Advisor and Vice President of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, which vigorously supports the National Day of Racial Healing. It has attracted hundreds of thousands of participants over the years.

Last year, despite the COVID pandemic, nearly 90 virtual events were hosted across the country. The Kellogg Foundation reported that “a wide array of programs (were held) to foster truth-telling, affirm our common humanity and inspire collective action toward a more just and equitable world.” The Foundation said their virtual event “featured essential and timely conversations” on righting historical wrongs, employment equity and law and justice, featuring Ta-Nehisi Coates, Yara Shahidi, Camila Cabello, María Hinojosa, John Legend and others.

This year, organizations and municipalities are holding events across the country, including in Battle Creek, Michigan; Lansing, Michigan; Madison, Wisconsin; Haddonfield, New Jersey; Lansdowne, Pennsylvania; Detroit, Michigan; White Plains, New York; Austin, Texas; South Fulton, Georgia; Phoenix, Arizona and Harrisonburg, Virginia.

“It's hard to believe it's been six years that we've been commemorating and acknowledging this very important day,” Dr. Christopher says in a new video urging participation. “…It's a day that we set aside to stand up for the belief that our country can actually eliminate and overcome the harms of racism. Yes, we believe that we can. And in fact, we must eliminate racism and that's what the National Day of Racial Healing is all about. It's a time for communities to come together and embrace and honor the humanity of all people.”

Her complete video message is available HERE.

In the video, Dr. Christopher asserts that America must “be truthful” about its legacy of racism which dates back to our inception as a nation. Nonetheless, she says we must move forward, adding, “It's time to envision a future, a future in which we have actually addressed racism.”

Moreover, Dr. Christopher offers support for a national TRHT Commission. California Rep. Barbara Lee and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker have introduced measures in the House and Senate. More than 300 organizations support Rep. Lee’s TRHT resolution and it has more than 150 co-sponsors in Congress. Dr. Christopher says the TRHT framework is a comprehensive, national, and community-based process to bring transformational and sustainable change, while addressing historic and contemporary effects of racism. TRHT’s five guiding pillars are: Narrative Change, Racial Healing and Relationship Building, Separation, Law and the Economy. Dr. Christopher notes that the pillars are the foundation for several initiatives, including Healing Through Policy, a partnership between NCHE, the de Beaumont Foundation, and the American Public Health Association. More information can be found at https://www.nationalcollaborative.org/healing-through-policy/.

Dr. Christopher says the National Day of Racial Healing energizes our commitment and engages millions of people. She asks viewers to visit the Kellogg Foundation website to learn more about the NDORH at https://healourcommunities.org/day-of-racial-healing/ and to download a toolkit at https://healourcommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Individuals-Action-Kit_2022.pdf to learn what students, individuals, organizations, companies and others can do to support it. “On 18th, we encourage you to set aside some time and to orchestrate some very specific relational work that allows you to become more skilled and more capable of seeing yourself in the face of the perceived other,” she tells viewers.

As Dr. Christopher speaks to groups around the country, in person and virtually, she encounters many people tired of the injustices and the inequities. Frequently, they ask, “Dr. Christopher, what gives you hope? What keeps you inspired?”

“And my response is that I've seen how much progress we have made, and it is significant. And I know I've seen individuals overcome the barriers,” she says. “I've seen communities come together and create new ways forward. So, I believe in my heart that we, as a democracy can overcome our legacy of division and racism. And perhaps more importantly, that we must. I believe democracy is a very good idea. And I know that it's under threat right now with all the authoritarian momentum around the world and even in this country. But I also know that if we are to actualize the promise of democracy, we must overcome and eliminate racism.”

(To schedule a print or broadcast interview with Dr. Christopher, please contact Michael K. Frisby 202-625-4328/mike@frisbyassociates.com.)

About NCHE
Founded in 2014, NCHE promotes health equity through action, leadership, inclusion and collaboration. We work to create environments that foster the best possible health outcomes for all populations, regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status or nativity. NCHE also works to improve conditions for health and well-being, including those related to housing, education, income and wealth and the physical and social environment. Further, it is imperative that we address historic and contemporary structural, institutional and interpersonal racism, which fuels inequities in our society.

The Executive Leadership Council Announces the Appointment of Lori Walker
as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 12, 2022 – The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) today announced the appointment of Lori Walker as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective January 10, 2022. The ELC is the preeminent global membership organization for Black current and former CEOs, senior executives and board members of Fortune 1000 and equivalent companies, top-tier entrepreneurs and global thought leaders. The organization advocates for advancing Black leadership by increasing the number of Black corporate CEOs, C-Suite executives and board members, and building the pipeline of the next generation of Black corporate leaders.

Ms. Walker will support Michael C. Hyter, President and CEO of The ELC, in addressing a range of strategic issues including enhancing organizational effectiveness and integrity, providing staff leadership, and overall strategic planning for the organization as a whole and for individual programs and initiatives. She is responsible for day-to-day operations of the organization, implementing best practices in management systems, including appropriate integration and collaboration of teams and functional areas, to ensure strong organizational performance to meet ambitious goals. She will manage three programmatic departments: Corporate Partnerships, Member Services & Events, and The Institute for Leadership Development and Research.

“Operational excellence is a key priority for The ELC. Hiring the right COO is critical to the success of our organization and our ability to successfully serve our members and multifaceted stakeholder groups. It was important to identify someone who not only has the skills required to do the job but can serve as an effective leader for the membership and staff. Lori’s talents and expertise make her our ideal candidate and we are excited to welcome her to our leadership team,” said Hyter.

Ms. Walker comes to The ELC with 1.5 years of experience at Cigna, serving as COO for CuraScript Specialty Distribution. She previously spent 18 years at Cardinal Health in various leadership roles, including General Manager & Vice President of Distribution Services; Vice President, Supply Chain-NASCF & Global Supply Chain Integration Lead for Patient Recovery; and Vice President, Strategic Planning and Execution/Chief of Staff for the Medical Segment. She has prior Finance and Strategy experience at Ashland Oil, Mead Westvaco, and Limitedbrands.

Ms. Walker has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance from Eastern Kentucky and a Masters of Business Administration from Benedictine College. She is a Certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt.

About The Executive Leadership Council:
The Executive Leadership Council opens channels of opportunity for the development of Black executives to positively impact business and our communities. An independent non-profit 501(c)(3) founded in 1986, The ELC is the pre-eminent membership organization committed to increasing the number of global Black executives in C-Suites, on corporate boards and in global enterprises. Comprising nearly 800 current and former Black CEOs, senior executives and board directors at Fortune 1000 and Global 500 companies, and entrepreneurs at top-tier firms, its members work to build an inclusive business leadership pipeline that empowers global Black leaders to make impactful contributions to the marketplace and the global communities they serve. For more information, please visit www.elcinfo.com.

For media inquiries, contact:
Joseph Graham, The Executive Leadership Council, jgraham@elcinfo.com

Oct. 29, 2020

Right Wing Watch: The Week’s Weirdest Moments on the Extreme Right: QAnon Dangers, Trump Superfan MMA Fighter, Steve Bannon’s Campaign Reappearance

Lock-picking

Former White House adviser Steve Bannon, out on bail following his indictment on wire fraud charges, made a virtual appearance earlier this month at the Rod of Iron Freedom Festival​ in Pennsylvania. The Rod of Iron rally ​was organized by two sons of the late Sun Myung Moon, a messianic Korean religious leader who founded and bankrolled the right-wing Washington Times newspaper. Bannon delivered a message seemingly meant to incite the several thousand attendees:

“What the left intends to do — and you’re seeing it in Pennsylvania right now — [is] use the courts, use social media, use the mainstream to make sure Trump is not declared the winner that night,” Bannon told the crowd. He said falsely that “uncertifiable” mail-in ballots would be used to “steal the presidency” away from the president. “Look we’re going to win this thing,” he said. “Pennsylvania is the key that picks the lock for a second Trump term.”

Rod of Iron Ministries offers training to “equip 2nd Amendment Christians with the tools and training that enable Patriots to grow closer to God while defending America’s founding principles.” The two brothers happen to own a gun manufacturer.

Fight club

Former UFC fighter Tito Ortiz is basing his bid for elected office in Huntington Beach, Calif., on who he knows. Ortiz’s relationship with the incumbent president dates back to 2001, when the UFC held two consecutive events at the Trump Taj Mahal casino. At the time, the UFC had been relegated to small venues in states like Mississippi after then-Arizona senator John McCain referred to MMA as “human cockfighting.” The comment tarnished the UFC’s reputation and its ability to promote events across the United States. Trump took a chance on the UFC and allowed the promoters to host shows at his casino.

Ortiz was one of the biggest stars the UFC had at the time. He headlined one of the shows at the Trump Taj Mahal and won his fight in 30 seconds. Since then, he has been pictured with Trump on numerous occasions over the years and even appeared as a contestant on “Celebrity Apprentice,” hosted by Trump.

A native of Huntington Beach, Ortiz was roused to enter politics following a wave of Black Lives Matter protests that took place in the town in May and June 2020, which he attended with a group of locals under the guise of “maintaining the peace.” Taking inspiration from Trump—a fellow businessman who lacked any political qualifications prior to running for office—Ortiz decided to run for Huntington Beach City Council. “I’ll give a lot of credit to Donald Trump because he’s not a politician. He’s a businessman who had a business strategy to make America great,” Ortiz told ABC7.

QA-what?

A recent poll from Yahoo News/You Gov finds that half of the incumbent president’s supporters among registered voters believe in the patently absurd QAnon conspiracy theory. It’s rather convoluted, but the basics are these: The theorists claim that the president is secretly battling a hidden cabal of Satanic Democrats and Hollywood figures who are ostensibly running a pedophile ring, and that a moment is coming when there will be mass arrests and executions of those smeared as members of the phantasmagoric cabal.

The fallout from QAnon is likely to be felt during the 2020 election and long afterward. A series of bogus claims dumped into an internet cesspool has started a movement that will soon have representation in the U.S. Congress.

Whether Trump wins or loses, our political system now must contend with the fact that a considerable number of people in the country who believe that a Satanic cabal of pedophiles is running the government and a GOP that chooses more often than not to look the other way as this corrosive movement takes root in its base.

Right Wing Watch is a Project of People for the American Way.

Nov. 11, 2020

That River in Egypt

If there’s anything of which we’re sure, it’s that the present occupant of the White House will not go quietly into the night, and neither will his followers. Like him, they do not accept the election’s results, and have latched on to the false narrative of an election stolen from them. And while the antics of such Trump acolytes as former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani — who convened a Pennsylvania press conference on Nov. 7 in the parking lot of a Philadelphia landscaping company that is wedged between a crematorium and a pornography shop — may seem comical, they managed to muster followers in red baseball caps at state capitol buildings across the country the weekend following the election. In open-carry states, such as Arizona, pro-Trump protesters came heavily armed.

Now far-right political operatives, as well as hosts of Fox News Channel prime-time programs, are rallying those aggrieved Trump activists to march on Washington on Nov. 14. Emboldened by Attorney General William Barr’s endorsement of Justice Department investigations of voter-fraud allegations made by right-wing leaders and the president himself, the weekend rally may reveal just how deep the president’s support runs — or doesn’t.

QAnon in Congress

The House of Representatives will welcome three new members in January who have, at one time or another, embraced the QAnon conspiracy theory, which posits the all of the president’s political opponents are part of a Satanic child-sex-trafficking cabal, and that the president is working in secret to defeat the cabal, round up major Democratic and Hollywood figures and execute them. The social-media network built by QAnon adherents was a tool that proved useful to the Trump campaign, as prominent campaign surrogates retweeted and shared posts from QAnon-related accounts.

Marjorie Taylor Greene will represent Georgia’s 14^th Congressional District. Not only has Greene referred to “Q,” the anonymous figure at the center of the conspiracy theory, as “a patriot,” she also appeared to compare Black Lives Matter to the Ku Klux Klan in videos obtained by the news site Politico.

Lauren Boebert, who won the seat from Colorado’s 3^rd Congressional District, appeared on the YouTube program hosted by QAnon influencer Ann Vandersteel, where she said that if the QAnon theory “is real, then it can be really great for our country.” The New York Times reports that under the scrutiny that comes with running a political campaign, Boebert has since disavowed the conspiracy theory.

At 25, Madison Cawthorn is the youngest person ever to be seated in Congress. And though he reportedly has disavowed QAnon, he does support its claims about child-sex-trafficking. He also raised some eyebrows after posting on his Instagram page photographs of his 2017 visit to Adolf Hitler’s summer home in Germany.

Head Case

Considering the fact that former presidential adviser Steve Bannon is currently awaiting trial on charges of wire fraud for allegedly soaking donors to a fund that was supposed to finance the building of a section of a wall on the Southern U.S. border (instead the donations are said to have gone into the pockets of Bannon and a couple of associates), you’d think that Bannon would be on his best behavior. But after it became known that the former Breitbart News executive had called for the beheadings of Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, and FBI Director Christopher Wray, his lawyer quit representing him, and Twitter suspended his account. Facing a sad future behind bars, Bannon is left hoping that his execution scenario has pleased the president enough to grant poor Bannon a pardon.

Right Wing Watch is a project of People For the American Way.