Recently members and congregants of Selma, Alabama’s Brown Chapel AME Church held a silent protest by turning their backs on 2020 presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg, during his appearance on Sunday (March 1).
Prior to taking to the pulpit, Bloomberg was introduced to the church (and brought up to the alter) by Reverend Leodis Strong. The pastor kicked off the warm introduction by recalling having invited the former mayor of New York to the church previously. However, Bloomberg declined the invite in the past, due to a scheduling conflict.
“I think that it’s important for Mr. Bloomberg, Mayor Bloomberg, to hear from you, listen to you, to learn from you,” Reverend Strong told churchgoers, according to CBS News.
“Let me just say this. I think it’s important that [Bloomberg] came,” Strong continued. “And it shows a willingness on his part to change. And I like that, and I think that that is important.”
After Strong’s introduction, Bloomberg then went on to speak in front of the congregation, addressing everything from voter suppression, to the ongoing fight for civil.
However, about 10 minutes into his speech, a number of congregates stood from their seats and turned their backs to the altar, silently protesting Bloomberg. They remained standing until the very end of his remarks.
Brown Chapel AME Church is a historical site in Selma, as it was a frequented meeting place for many activists during the civil rights movement.
Also at the service was former Vice President and fellow presidential race runner, Joe Biden, who won Saturday’s South Carolina primary. Former Georgia House of Representatives, Stacey Abrams, was also in attendance.
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