Remembering Dr. King with Resistance

1/30

Micah Table Clergy in solidarity

It was the week before our annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's life that our President decided to make his "shithole countries" statement.  A little later that week, his Immigration Control and Enforcement (ICE) agents moved on the New Sanctuary movement.  First by seizing Associate Director Jean Montrevil. We knew the director, Ravi Ragbir, would be next.

Ravi speaks of his situation

The New Sanctuary Movement

NSM logo

is a grass roots movement commiNSM lgo
tted to providing safety  and shelter to vulnerable immigrants who find themselves under threat from ICE. Drawing its inspiration from the Sanctuary Movement of the 1980's which provided shelter for those escaping murder and repression in Central America, the NSM is committed to saving lives as well. The New York Times Magazine (1/17/18) has reported that immigration officials no longer ask the required questions as to whether someone fears for their life if returned, warranting an automatic hearing . Instead, persons are immediately deported, often to their deaths upon return. There are now, for example, nearly 300000 Salvadorans subject for deportation to the country with the world's highest murder rate. 

By the time Ravi's report date comes on Thursday, Jean has already been sent to the Chrome Avenue Detention Center in Miami, one step away form deportation to Haiti. We gather for breakfast and prayers, and then as Ravi leaves for his hearing, abroad interfaith coalition starts out on a "Jericho Walk"....

Beginning the "Jericho Walk" through AI Wei Wei's installation, "Fences make good neighbors"

seven circuits around the Federal Court Building with Marc Greenberg of the Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing blowing the shofar. 

Later, word will come that Ravi has been detained. Because he fainted at the announcement, he is being taken to jail in an ambulance. Attempts are made to block the ambulance and ultimately two city council members are arrested including council member Jumane Williams being dragged away in a choke hold.

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Monday is the annual King Memorial day. Today is not a day of rest, it is a  day of protest and marching. The special guest at Judson Memorial where we begin is Ruby Sales,

Ruby Sales

who as the little girl Ruby Bridges was the first to integrate the William Franz Elementary School in Louisiana.

Ms. Sales tells us our movement must be international and have hindsight, insight and foresight. And that Anti-Islam and Anti- Black are connected and the same.  What's happening today is not new, but has roots deep in the American soil.  And that we must rid ourselves of empirism with remorse, restitution, reconfiguration,reconstruction, reconciliation and resurrection. 

In the freezing cold, we go outside or another Jericho walk, And back inside the church, there is an overflow crowd for the press conference with the council members.

New Sanctuary press conferecne

The question before us is where will stand in this rising?  Council member Jumane Williams says We stand for all who are "other" anywhere and that we must uproot this system.

We now know that Ravi, too, has been sent to Chrome.  He and Jean were able to see each other before Jean was deported. Both have lived here over twenty years. Have wives and children. Are intimately and integrally part of their communities. And the Trump administration is determined o send a message to those who would seek to stand up for immigrants.

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Back uptown, I join in the 16th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day march for peace and justice.

At the Upper West Side march

This year's theme is "Immigration" and even with the freezing cold, a large crowd as come  out to march from congregation to congregation singing, chanting and praying. At Pastor Heidi's church, Trinity, two vulnerable immigrants take the risk to tell their story, just so we understand.

Telling their story

At the march's conclusion, Borough President Gale Brewer,

Manhattan Boro President Gale Brewer in solidarity

our former council member, lifts up Council members Williams and Martinez. There is clear public concern about Trump's actions.

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At Ravi's court hearing on Tuesday, the judge expresses dismay that ICE would move when a natural "stay of deportation" hearing  date as fast approaching. ICE's chilling response was basically, "We did it because we can..."

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Wednesday was the memorial service for my friend Philip Newell.

Philip's memorial service

His wife, Madelyn Tramm chose this day because it was in the center of the week celebrating Dr. King's life. And she chose the Riverside  church for the service because that was where Dr.King preached his famous Sermon criticizing the US in Vietnam. Not all were aware that Philip and Dr. King had bene study partners at Boston, Philip drinking beers and Dr.King...Diet Pepsi?...Madelyne noted that Philip's last word was a loud and clear declaration, "Exonerate!"...perhaps himself, perhaps all who struggle to believe in their own forgiveness. Speakers noted that Philip believed that faith was not about pieties, propositions and proscriptions but purpose, proclamation and prophetic witness.   And that he always believed at the Bible should be read as a social contract. with theological depth and resolve.  And that one must love and be immersed in life.  And that if you want to stay married, you must forgive each other from the bottom of your heart every day. 

Sitting in the congregation I can't help but wonder when I die, who will come? What will they say? What can still be done between now and then?

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The judge ruled that Ravi must be returned from Chrome to Elizabeth, New Jersey. And today, that he must be released from  detention. Deportation still seems imminent.

Saturday, 100s of thousands marched again in the Women's March. It's spirit was buoyant and defiant, voices --and fists--raised at Trump Tower, the Trump Hotel and FOX news.

At the march

at Trump Tower

Diverse voices

Spirit of the day

Steady flow of marchers

The BBC ran a report on deportations that most Americans haven't figured out yet. People we've known for decades, neighbors,  are disappearing day by day. We are already deeper into an alternative reality than could have been imagined. 

Steady loving confrontation, King called us to in Selma.  That's what we need. 

A visit to El Barrio: East Harlem

11/1

a visit to East Harlem

The Micah Institute Faith Table spent a day exploring El Barrio: East Harlem. The day began at the Church of The Living Hope

Church of the Living Hope

where after organizer Diane Steinman

Diane sets the agenda

set the agenda for the day, Pastor Ray Rivera introduced us to the neighborhood he grew up in.

Ray Rivera introduces us to el Barrio

(It should noted that Ray has been a ground breaking pastor in engaging the Pentecostal community in the struggle for social justice and for bridging the gap between Pentecostals and the historic ecumenical community.)

Ray described the waves of immigrants: the early German and Jewish populations, the tide of Italian immigrants with leaders like former mayor La Guardia, activist Vito Marcantonio and the presence of the Genovese family.

While Black power grew west of 5th, a new Latino community grew to the east, first Puerto Ricans then Cubans and Dominicans and today Mexicans. (And now, with increased gentrification in Chinatown, the fastest growing population group in East Harlem is Chinese.).While integration was a political issue citywide, Ray points out that East Harlem has been integrated since 1949.

He speaks pf the impact of Pentecostalism and the East Harlem Protestant Parish on the neighborhood..and his…life. For him the three words that most describe the neighborhood reality are:

• Creative tension
• Transcendence
• Grace

Martha Eddy

Martha Eddy 

is a daughter of the East Harlem Protestant Parish. Her father, Norm, along with Don Benedict, George Huggins and George  (Bill) Weber were the idealistic Union Seminary graduates who came to East Harlem with a vision. (Joined by one of my mentors, Presbyterian George Todd.) It began in 1947 and lasted until 1975. Norm's vision was to create “Plymouth Colony” in East Harlem. They created a model that is vitally relevant today as the historic church seeks to find its way in a rapidly changing world.

The clergy families committed to a community of mutual support pledging to share with each other  emotionally,spiritually and economically. And congregation members committed to disciplines of:

• Worship, study and prayer
• Stewardship
• Political action

Martha remembers political leaders like Mayor Lindsay and Abe Beame  coming to their table for conversation. EHPP's legacy in terms of housing, economics and drug and prison reform continues to this day.

Coming from England, Pastor Chris Lawrence

Chris Lawrence shares his vision

considers his congregation a latter day expression  of the EHPP. He seeks to explore and give theological and spiritual meaning to what he calls the “art of neighboring.”  The “La Mesa” project, or dinner church, is both a literal and metaphoric expression of that commitment. Chris also practices “hyper localism,” that is  he focuses his ministry in an area of four square blocks and wants to know those four blocks in every way possible. To know the people and their lives, so that the church might be the place where their losses are mourned and their victories and joys celebrated. 

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To describe everything we saw would take much too long. So I’ll include just a few notes and focus on the faith community…

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Murals are part of the life of el Barrio, much like the Mission in San Francisco or East LA. The ‘Los Dos Alas” mural

Los Dos Alas mural

portrays the revolutionary friendship between the Puerto Rican and Cuban peoples. Ray tells us that the first Cuban refugees  to come to el Barrio were referred to by others as gusanos, that is worms, for having abandoned the revolution. MICAH’s Peter Heltzel shares his experience of Albizu Campos, Puerto Rican freedom fighter.

Peter tells us about Albizu Campos

We see also the dramatic murals of James de la Vega whose work is seen throughout the city. 

a De La Vega mural

We also stop by the Julia de Burgos Cultural Center named for the poet, feminist and Puerto Rican nationalist who died unknown in the streets of el barrio and was buried in the city’s potter’s field, Hart’s Island. (Later her body was recovered and taken to Puerto Rico for a hero’s burial ). 

While there is great pride in the fact that current New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Vivirito is a daughter of the  neighborhood, there was sadness and anger over her seeking to end the lease for the Burgos Center.   

( For Leonard Bernstein’s tribute to Julia de Burgos, go to Https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YAIccN47ID0)

Ray also points out the Buen Vecino (Presbyterian) Church,

El Buen Vecino

which now houses Community Voices Heard (cvhaction.org) and the leadership of its pastor Domingo Rosado.

What the Panthers were for the Black community, the Young Lords

Young Lords street

were to the Latinx community. Perhaps with greater lasting impact. From breakfast and tutoring programs to activism, they left their mark.

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A central Roman Catholic Church of the neighborhood is St. Cecelia’s.

St. Cecelia's

We meet with its pastor, Father Mushi

Diane, Fathee Mushi and Martha

and hear of its history from its origins as a German and Irish parish to the coming of Puerto Ricans and then Dominicans and now Mexicans. And most recently, an influx of Puerto Ricans fleeing the  devastation of the island. They are confronted by the expected issues: AIDS, drugs and affordable housing. The parish has been an important member of the community organizing network,Manhattan Together, which has been working on affordable housing.

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On our way to the Islamic Center, we pass by La Marqueta, the open air market under the elevated train tracks along Park Avenue. Both Ray and Martha have childhood memories of La Marqueta.

The Islamic Culturall Center of New York City

The Islamic Center

anchors the southern end of the neighborhood on 96th street. It is, of course, the major Islamic center in New York City. Imam Sa’ad Jallo

Introducing Imam Jallo

has a multinational and multiethnic congregation that includes United Nations officials, diplomats, international business men and many, many cab drivers. He explains why and how cab driving is one of the most accessible entry level jobs for Muslim immigrants. His neighborhood members come mainly from French speaking Africa, Imam Jello himself come from Sierra Leone. He describes his pastoral work as well as the tradition of giving new arrivals sis months of housing and support while they find their place. in the city There is also a traditional Muslim practice of providing loan assistance and the Center actively participates in a “midnight run”food program for the homeless population of the city.

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We end our day at Church of the Resurrection.

Pastor Kim Wright

Emerging  from the EHPP, the Church was given new life by a creative partnership with a developer which resulted in affordable housing and a multiple floor flexible facility for the church . ( Luckily they were able to achieve this without interference by preservation purists.) Pastor Kim Wright is another child of the  neighborhood. Their history includes work with the Latino Pastors Action Council,the creation of Mitchell Lama  houses and following on the pioneer work of Norm Eddy, drug treatment/detox facilities. It is clearly an active center for worship and witness, learning and celebration.

The day ends with conversations with representatives from a vast array of social action and service agencies.

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Some closing thoughts:

• Many thanks to Diane Steinman and her committee. This was truly an in depth experience of a unique New York neighborhood
• There is clearly a deep love for the neighborhood among those who grew up there and a continued strong sense of “neighborhood”….sometime like a Puerto Rican village in the middle of the city.
• East Harlem Protestant Parish clearly created a model of Christian discipleship that has lasting value. There are also questions worth reflection: 
• The leadership of EHPP was for the most part white. How do we understand that historically? What is the appropriate role of pastors like Chris Lawrence in communities of color? How can our work contribute to the deconstruction of white privilege?
• Much (not all) of the early history of urban ministry in the “mainline” churches was that of heroic white pastors in neighborhoods of people of color. How has that role changed over the years? (Obviously these congregations were not historically white) Are their other stories we haven’theard? Need to hear?
• There is a cornucopia of service and activist organizations in East Harlem, perhaps predictably so. The sheer numbers  are overwhelming. But perhaps this raises as many questions as it answers. After the presence of all these organizations  over all these years, how has the neighborhood improved? Is there an inherent contradiction between institutional survival  and real change taking place in a neighborhood? To what extent are our lives as activists/commuuty workers, etc. connected to an ongoing non-empowerment of people? It would be helpful to hear the reflections of neighborhood pastors on how the different organizations and agencies  are perceived in the neighborhood.
• What do we learn about current realities in the Roman Catholic Church when one of the principle churches in el barrio is staffed by francophone pastors from Africa? (Of course acknowledging their deep devotion to their parish and Spanish language facility…)
• Given this vast complex of church and community organizations, how does MICAH live out its faith rooted organizing work in relationship to East Harlem? What kind of working relationships develop? Who do we work with and how? Do we do intentional outreach or ….?
• One more time, big thanks to Diane and committee!

Being there for Mohamed Bah

6/30

Mohamed Bah was a 28 year old immigrant from Guinea. A cab driver. A student. A  devout Muslim. A Harlem neighbor. And a son. His smother was concerned about him and called for emergency medical assistance. She got police instead. And Mohamed was shot dead. The story the police told was simple enough. As usual, they were quickly exonerated 

But aa the case has been examined and studied, stories have unravelled, key pieces of evidence “disappeared” and a critical gun shot, when Mohamed was already incapacitated, came not from below, as in defense, but from above as an execution. Finally, five years later, hearings have begun. In Federal court. 

Part of the tragedy is that these events have become so common, details of any individual case are hard to keep track of. There are almost too many to protest. But there is a more personal connection here. One of our colleagues, Imam Konate, was the leader of Mohamed’s spirit home. And has stood beside his mother, Hawa, throughout the long ordeal. He came to the interfaith circle of the Micah Faith Leaders Table seeking our presence.  And we have joined him in support for Mama Bah. 

To walk the streets of Harlem’s Little Africa with Imam Konate is like walking a neighborhood with my favorite Irish parish priest friend. Imam Konate nods a greeting to all he passes on the street, In the Shabazz Market, he seems to know every vendor by name. During midday prayers, the cab drivers park in a long double line in front of his mosque. Though constantly on the verge of being pushed out by the rising tide of gentrification, the Imam is part of the glue that holds this diaspora of francophone Africa together. 

The Patrick Moynihgan Federal Court House

The Federal Court building looms imposingly over Pearl Street in Lower Manhattan. After passing through the airport like security check, I’m surprised to have to surrender my phones well. It makes me feel very anxious to give it up.

I go to the 11th floor and discover the courtroom is already filled to overflowing. They are directing people to an overflow room three floors up where the proceedings are on closed circuit television. I look around the room….there are African Muslims in long flowing robes. And Imam Talib, the dean of African-American Muslim clergy. Women like Debra Almontraser, founder of the Kahlil Gibran Arab culture focus public school until hounded, harassed and harangued by the Post and its allies until the Board of Ed buckled and removed her. Leaders like housing activist Marc Greenberg and Micah’s Peter Heltzel. Other clergy of various denominations. Rev.Dr. Caryn Di Carlo, a former police officer, the passionate Bishop Ray Blanchette.

At the break time, I will see Labor-Religion’s Rabbi Michael Feinberg. And current Muslim lightning rod Linda Sarsour, Palestinian American, organizer of the Women’s march, our go between with the Justice League and the grassroots leadership of Black Lives Matter. Under unrelenting attack by FOX news and the mainstream Jewish establishment. And, sadly, death threats to herself and family. And Muslim women in their robes. The reason for their  presence here is obvious. 

And there are the ubiquitous Revolutionary Communists in their black t-shirts. Leaving aside my puzzlement around the whole “BA”(Bob Avakian) devotion deal, I am fascinated by the Rev Coms.They are always there. Always present. Perhaps that’s why Cornell West will appear with, work with, them. They are disciplined. Committed. And always there. I wish there were a progressive Christian community, not just the usual cadre of progressive clergy, but an identifiable and visible community of witness and presence that like the Rev Coms was always there. In the name of Jesus. Muslims. The progressive clergy cohort collective. And the Rev Coms. Presente. Important for the judge to know we are watching. This case will be watched. 

The wheels of justice grind slow. The day drags on, through the minute details of how the evidence came to be lost and/or damaged and/or…..Well, there was Super Storm Sandy, you know? Well, the officer in charge? Well, retired….

Will there be justice for Mohamed Bah? Even proximate justice? That remains to be seen. We will continue to bear witness. At the least, the Department of Justice has to respond to how people with mental illness are dealt with. A special investigation by the Washington Post showed at least 125 people with symptoms of mental illness killed by police in the first half of 2015. 

And so we watch. And listen. And wait……

Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend 2017: Where is Jesus?

1/15

It was the Sunday before the inauguration. And we gathered to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And reflect on where we are …now.

All the music of the day was chosen for special reasons….we opened with “Jesus the Light of the World…” continuing our Epiphany theme of light..and getting it…and sang Siyahamba…We are marching in the light of God…a South African freedom song that was late taken up by the More Light movement for full inclusion in church life  by the LGBTQ community..a movement that was birthed at West-Park in 1978…the religious Stonewall, you might say…Precious Lord, take my hand was Dr.King’s favorite song, the one that brought the confirm in times of doubt and fear .the uncertainty of our  time moved me to sing Blowin in the Wind, a song I would sing the next day at the annual Upper West Side Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. peace walk at Pastor Heidi’s invitation..and of course we called with the Civil Rights Movement’s We Shall Overcome…

And this was my reflection…

This is the Second Sunday in Epiphany…a season of Light…a season of “getting it”…as we continue ti hold our breath in our journey into the unknown…and the weekend of celebrating the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, JR…

In our gospel lesson, somehow we’re still with Jesus where we left him last week, on the banks of the Jordan with John…and this time it’s from the perspective of the Gospel of John…and John too has seen the dove of the Holy Spirit descend and remain on Jesus.

Ultimately, in seeking what Jesus is up to, the people ask him where he’s staying, he responds come and see…and it’s not so much asking where he is but what he does and who he is and by doing so we will discover where we are…

And where is he staying?  I’m convinced that  these days, we’re going  to find him a lot in the streets…

Last Friday, the Micah Institute (and others) walked together to deliver a letter. We walked with Mama Bah, the mother of a murdered child. The Micah Faith Table calls on US Attorney Preet Bharara to launch a full investigation into his case and fully prosecute all officers who killed her son Mohamed Bah, an African  Muslim son of our city in Septemer 2012…three years ago…It was profoundly moving to see Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu and  Christian clergy all together…with my neighbor Imam Konate, the spiritual leader of the mosque where Mohammad worshipped…later. he told us emotionally how moved Mama Bah was by the solidarity of so many. She felt a dam in her heart had broken open. “Come and see’’’ says Jesus…

We’ve got macro concerns and micro ones as we  move forward…macro-wise, there was recently a full page ad in the New York Times  calling us to  “Stop Trump” before he is inaugurated…calling on 1000’s…or more.. to come to Washington,DC to block the streets, etc…and of course the women’s march that will take place January 20th…these are macro actions…

We need to be concerned with the micro as well…local issues  and actions that are definable, achievable, measurable and verifiable …(the DAM-V test of organizers..)

Tomorrow is our annual Upper West Side Martin Luther King, Jr.  walk for peace and justice organized by our clergy and Westsiders for Peace and Justice…

Our march

this year the action is very specific….support for West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing’s proposed expansion of affordable housing at West 108th street…

WSFSSH founder Rev. Laura Jervis

We support affordable housing

.280 units…(20% of our seniors live in poverty, in Manhattan Valley alone 2000 of them are  on a  waiting  list for affordable housing …with a seven year wait..)The plan to use  three garages owned by the city has caused a community uproar..…come and see

And our friends from the National Movement Against Sweat Shops  and Justice will be Served…are organizing to pass a statewide SWEAT bill to stop wage theft…from the most vulnerable of our neighbors, immigrant workers from Mexico, China and French west Africa…come and see…

Frequently at these services, we read from Dr. King’s I have a dream speech. But this year i want to read from Dr. King’s 

Letter from the Birmingham jail….1963…

There was a time when the church was very powerful. It was during that period that the early Christians rejoiced when they were

deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas

and principles of popular opinion; it was the thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Wherever the early Christians

entered a town the power structure got disturbed and immediately sought to convict them for being "disturbers of the peace" and

"outside agitators." But they went on with the conviction that they were "a colony of heaven" and had to obey God rather than

man. They were small in number but big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be "astronomically intimidated."

They brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contest.

Things are different now. The contemporary church is so often a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. It is so often

the arch supporter of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average

community is consoled by the church's often vocal sanction of things as they are.

But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If the church of today does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the

early church, it will lose its authentic ring, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no

meaning for the twentieth century. I meet young people every day whose disappointment with the church has risen to outright

disgust.

I hope the church as a whole will meet the challenge of this decisive hour

Yesterday, our Session met with Rick Ufford-Chase

Meeting with Rick

…..we dreamed of creating a congregation committed to:

,,,each other

…radical (and disciplined) reading of scripture

…worship (deep sharing)

…and taking action together…

of this you will be hearing more..come and see…

Jesus is here..

Thank you (again) Leila!