Black pastors announce support for Asheville racial justice efforts

Press release from the African American Ministers of Asheville and Western NC:

The African American Ministers of Asheville and Western NC announce our support for Asheville City Council, Mayor, City Manager, Police Chief and city initiatives to reimagine/reinvest in the community.

• The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Asheville & Vicinity Rev. Gary McDaniel, President
• The Baptist Ministerial Union of Asheville & Vicinity Rev. Dr. L.C. Ray, President
• The Mud Creek Missionary Baptist Association of Western North Carolina Rev. Spencer Jones, Moderator 

The above announce our support for the Mayor of the City of Asheville, the Honorable Esther Manheimer; the City Manager, Ms. Debra Campbell; and our newly appointed Asheville Police Department Chief, David Zack.

We offer our help and will assist toward bringing healing and reconciliation to the Asheville and larger Buncombe County community through the process of Community Reinvestment and the reimagining of the Asheville Police Department.

Our network of churches throughout this city and Western North Carolina has been and is one of the few remaining bedrocks of organization and hope for our communities which need our help and leadership now. Since its inception, the Black church has historically provided the social, economic, political and cultural base for Black communities throughout the United States and has been pivotal to the success of the civil rights movement.

We are here to help lead the way to solutions and not anarchy, to truthful, respectful and compassionate dialogue without name-calling, to real change with tangible solutions so that resources are put into community-led, community-based people and organizations.

More details with questions and answers at the press conference on Monday, Aug. 24, at 11:00 a.m.

(Please note: Due to COVID 19, everyone in attendance is asked to wear masks and socially distance yourself at least 6 feet from others who are not members of your household.  If you do not have a mask, one will be provided, as well as hand sanitizer.)