More than 20 Caribbean faith leaders in Brooklyn have endorsed Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo for re-election, his campaign office said on Wednesday.
“The group cited the governor’s record of progressive accomplishments in delivering critical social and economic justice reform – from raising the age of criminal responsibility, establishing the nation’s first and only special prosecutor in the deaths of unarmed civilians, enacting a $15 minimum wage, passing paid family leave and more,” the statement said.
“Leaders also hailed the governor’s past efforts to help Caribbean immigrants, who have had their rights threatened by the Trump administration,” it added.
Bishop Orlando Findlayter of New Hope Christian Fellowship said: “We are excited to stand with Gov. Andrew Cuomo because, over the last four years, we have seen our K-12 schools funded with a record $27 billion, we’ve made unprecedented investments in full-day pre-K, boosted funding for our community schools to provide wrap-around services and expanded after school programs to equip students with the tools they need to succeed.
“At a time of much uncertainty in the nation, we need a leader who is brave and committed to ensuring that New York continues to be the progressive beacon on immigration, civil rights, criminal justice reform and fighting for women’s equality,” he added. “That leader is Gov. Cuomo, and we endorse his candidacy for re-election.”
Rev. Al Cockfield, the Guyanese-born pastor of God’s Battalion of Prayer Church said: “These troubled times require a true leader, and that’s Andrew Cuomo.
“For years, we’ve seen Gov. Cuomo’s commitment to underserved communities,” he said. “He’s put action behind his words and proven that he will fight for our rights.
“He’s leading the lawsuit against the Trump administration’s inhumane and illegal policy of separating immigrant children from their families, he’s pressing to close Rikers Island and improve our criminal justice system, and he’s working with educators and parents to make our children safe by enacting common sense gun reforms,” Rev. Cockfield added.
“I’m proud of the work he’s done, and I’m proud to endorse him for another term as New York’s governor,” he continued.
The Rev. Dr. Karen Champion of the Kingdom Dominion Empowerment Center said: “No other governor has helped so many in so many ways.
“Gov. Cuomo is helping our communities fight injustice with policies like raising the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18, establishing the first ever special prosecutor to investigate deaths of unarmed civilians at the hands of police, and vowing to close Rikers Island ahead of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan,” she said.
“As Trump pushes his anti-immigrant agenda across the country, we in the Caribbean community see so clearly how Gov. Cuomo’s leadership is more important than ever,” she added.
Champion said the governor provided legal services for Haitians after Trump ended temporary protected status.
She also noted that Cuomo has “taken on the administration’s illegal policy of separating children from parents and denying due process to migrant families.”
He’s stood by our community since he first took office and we know he will continue to be there for us for the next four years. Speaking on behalf of my colleagues, we proudly endorse Governor Cuomo for reelection.”
Cuomo said he was “honored to receive the endorsement from the faith leaders of our Caribbean community.
“As New Yorkers, we know the power of our diverse viewpoints is what has made us stronger, not weaker,” he said. “We’ve now seen how Trump’s ultra-conservative Republican administration treats people who don’t look like them, who don’t think like them and who don’t pray like them.
“As governor I will always work to fight for justice, religious freedom and the values which have made our state the leader of the nation,” he added.
Besides the above faith leaders, the Cuomo Campaign said members of Brooklyn’s Caribbean clergy who have endorsed the governor include: Rev. Gilford Monrose, Brooklyn Center for Quality Life; Rev. Charles Galbreath, Clarendon Road Church; Bishop Lubin Moise, Universal Mission Network Ministry Mount Sinai Worship Center Inc.; the Rev. Dr. Allen Martin, Christian Fellowship SDA Church; and the Pastor Lorenzo Williamson, New Deeper Life.
The others are: Pastor Clyde Ellis, Mount Olive Baptist Church; Rev. Dr. Terry Lee, Byways & Hedges Youth for Christ Ministry; Bishop Ebony Kirkland, Living God Ministries Worldwide; Rev. Faithlyn Morrison, New Hope Christian Fellowship; and the Rev. Verold Matthew, New Horizon Gospel Ministries.
