NYS Governor Cuomo's Missing Latino Clergy

NiLP Note: We have expressed over the years continual and unheeded concern about the extreme underrepresentation of Latinos in New York State government: although Latinos make up 19 percent of the state's population, we are less than 5 percent of the government work force. Now, in the midst of the controversities surrounding the Charlottesville protests, we find further evidence of this problem in an unexpected place: Governor Cuomo's complete exclusion of Latino clergy from a letter!

In a news release today, the Governor put out a letter condemning white supremacy and hatred in light of the Charlottesville protesta and Trump's response. This was a good thing, except for a small omission --- of the 132 clergy who signed on the letter, there was not a single Latino listed! This, if anything, highlights the Governor's continuing lack of attention and involvement with the state's Latino community. After all, Latino clergy? We got plenty!

---Angelo Falcón

Governor Cuomo and Over 125 Clergy Leaders Condemn White Supremacy and Hatred

The NiLP Report (August 20, 2017)

Governor Cuomo and New York Faith Leaders: "While Washington wavers, New York stands strong. In the face of hate, we will not stand idly by. This weekend, and every weekend, we will preach and celebrate the beauty of diversity and respect for all."

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and over 125 faith-based leaders across New York, including The Honorable Reverend Dr. Floyd H. Flake, Allen AME Cathedral; Reverend A.R. Bernard, Christian Cultural Center; Pastor Darius Pridgen, True Bethel Baptist Church in Buffalo and President of the Buffalo Common Council; Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, the New York Board of Rabbis; Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue; Rabbi Michael Miller, Jewish Community Relations Council of New York; Debbie Altmontaser, Muslim Community Network; and Cheikh Ahmed, Islamic Leadership Council of Metro NY, today in unity issued an open letter condemning white supremacy and hatred in the wake of the violence in Charlottesville last weekend and the continued protests.

The full text of the letter is below:

"In the wake of the unspeakable violence in Charlottesville this past weekend, perpetrated by white supremacists espousing hate, we come together not in fear but in hope and in faith - stronger and more united than ever before in the face of bigotry and violence.

This week, from this White House, we have heard the racist dog-whistles of campaign rhetoric morph into the clear and undeniable language of racism.

In New York, we stand with those who stand against hate. We, as leaders in this great State, unequivocally condemn the language and violence of white supremacy. We stand together to say that there are not many sides to hatred and bigotry; they have no place in our communities and must be denounced for what they are. Such hateful and painful rhetoric is a poison to the values of tolerance, inclusion and love that underscore our collective humanity.

This week and every week, we stand united in love, mutual understanding, and respect. We are here to tell our communities that we stand with them against intolerance, bigotry and racism. Whether it is the insidious hidden call or the outright slur - racism must be condemned.

While Washington wavers, New York stands strong. In the face of hate, we will not stand idly by. This weekend, and every weekend, we will preach and celebrate the beauty of diversity and respect for all. It is our hope that those in Washington will listen and join us."

Sincerely,

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

Cheikh Ahmed, Islamic Leadership Council of Metro New York

Rabbi Rachel Ain, Sutton Place Synagogue

Imam Shamsi Ali, Jamaica Muslim Center

Dr. Debbie Almontaser, President, Muslim Community Network

Rabbi Marc D. Angel, Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals

Jessica Anschutz, NYAC-UMC

Pastor MaryLou Baumgart, King of Kings Lutheran Church

Reverend A.R. Bernard Christian Cultural Center

Rabbi Jonathan Blake, Westchester Reform Temple

Neal Borovitz, Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Avodat Shalom

Michael S. Bos, West End Collegiate Church

Dr. John H. Boyd II, New Greater Bethel Min.

Rabbi Lester Bronstein, Bet Am Shalom Synagogue

Bishop Victor Brown, Mt. Sinai United Christian Church

Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, Senior Rabbi of Central Synagogue

Kathleen Buckley, UCC Minister and University Chaplain at St. Lawrence University

Rabbi Howard Buechler, Dix Hills Jewish Center

Reverend A. Alfred Carson, Presiding Elder New York City District of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church

Dr. Isma H. Chaudhry, President, Islamic Center of Long Island

Reverend Peggy Clarke, First Unitarian Society

Rabbi Fredda Cohen, White Plains Hospital Chaplain

Reverend Marvell Coker, Mt. Vernon Heights Congregational Church

Reverend Peter Cook, New York State Council of Churches

Reverend Frederick D. Daley, All Saints Parish

Reverend Doris Dalton, Westchester Martin Luther King Jr. Institute for Nonviolence

Reverend Noelle Damico, United Church of Christ

Reverend Troy DeCohen, United Black Clergy of Westchester and the Interfaith Clergy for Social Action

Rabbi Paul Drazen, Temple Adath Yesgurun

Reverend Lynn Dunn, White Plains Presbyterian Church

Rabbi Moshe Edelman, Scholar in Residence, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Rabbi Judith B. Edelstein, West End Synagogue

Rabbi Steven Exler, The Hebrew Institute of Riverdale

Bishop Orlando Findlayter, New Hope Christian Fellowship

The Honorable Reverend Dr. Floyd H. Flake, Allen AME Cathedral

Reverend Chuck Forbes Minetto, United Methodist Church

Rabbi Sharon G. Forman, Westchester Reform Temple

Reverend James Galasinski, UU Church of Canton

Reverend Jeffrey Geary, White Plains Presbyterian Church

Rabbi David Gelfand, Temple Israel of the City of New York

Reverend Dr. Michael B. Gerald, Shiloh Baptist Church

Reverend Richard S. Gilbert, President of Interfaith Impact of New York State

Rabbi Mark B. Greenspan, Oceanside Jewish Center

Reverend Phillip N. Grigsby, Schenectady Inner City Ministry

Reverend Dr. Charles Grimm, Rush United Methodist Church

Rabbi Jon Haddon, Temple Shir Shalom of Ridgefield and Westchester

Ainul Haque, Muslim Foundation of America

Rabbi Jonathan L. Hecht, Temple Chaverim

Rabbi Susie Heneson Moskowitz, Temple Beth Torah

Rabbi Ben Herman, Jericho Jewish Center

Rabbi Lev Herrnson, The Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre, Board of Directors

Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, Stephen Wise Free Synagogue

Reverend Stephen C. Holten, St. James Episcopal Church

Rabbi David Holtz, Temple Beth Abraham

Reverend Dr. Vernon House, New Life Missionary Baptist Church

Reverend Dr. Timothy Hoyer, Gloria Dei Lutheran

Reverend Dr. Dale T. Irvin, New York Theological Seminary

Rabbi Robert Jacobs, Member of New York Board of Rabbis

Imam Abu Jafar Beg, Masjid Al-Mamuur, Jamaica-Queens

Rabbi Daniel A. Jezer, Congregation Beth Sholom

Pastor Al Johnson, Pine Grove United Methodist Church

Reverend Janet Jones, Rossville AME Zion Church

Reverend Shaun Ellison Jones, Star of Bethlehem Baptist Church

Rabbi Mark Kaiserman, Reform Temple of Forest Hills

Reverend Ann Kansfield, Greenpoint Reformed Church

Brother Frank Kelly, Marist College Campus Ministry

Dr. James Kelsey, American Baptist Churches of New York State

Nelson Kent, Albany KTC (Karma Thegsum Choling)

Reverend Jim Ketcham, FOCUS Churches of Albany

Syed Khalid Khan, Muslim Association of Ulster County

Rabbi Dr. Beth H. Klafter, Temple Beth David

Gene Knoth, New York Annual Conference, United Methodist Church

Reverend Richard Kunz, Grace Episcopal Church, White Plains

Rabbi Eliezer Langer, Congregation Schomre Israel

Reverend Kirk Laubenstein, Coalition for Economic Justice

Imam Khalid Latif, The Islamic Center at NYU

Rabbi Alan Lavin, Congregation Beth Tikvah

Rabbi Serge Lippe Brooklyn Heights Synagogue

Congregants of Masjid Manhattan Mosque

Reverend Dave Mason, Union Presbyterian Church

Gabriel Maza, Rabbi Emeritus Suffolk Jewish Center of Deer Park

Cheikh Ahmed Mbareck, Majlis Ash-Shura (Islamic Leadership Council) of New York

Dr. Marvin A. McMickle, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School

Martha McQueen Clark, Ogdensburg First Presbyterian Church

John Medwid, First Lutheran Church, Albany

Rabbi Michael Miller, Jewish Community Relations Council of New York

Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, President, Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island

Imam Rafeek Mohammed, Masjid Al-Ikhlas, Astoria-Queens

Reverend Darren M. Morton, Macedonia Babtist Church

Rabbi Steven Moss, B'nai Israel Reform Temple

Imam Bayram Mulich, Bosnian Muslim Community, NY

Abdus Salaam Musa, Southeast Queens Muslim Collective

Sensei Koshin Paley Ellison , NY Zen Center for Contemplative Care

Rabbi Sam Pollak, The Community Synagogue in Port Washington

Reverend James Pollard, Upper New York Annual (Regional) Conference of The United Methodist Church

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, New York Board of Rabbis

Rabbi Janise Poticha, Temple Sinai of Massapequa

Reverend David W. Preisinger, The Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit

Pastor Craig D. Pridgen, True Bethel Baptist Church, Niagara Falls

Pastor Darius Pridgen, True Bethel Baptist Church in Buffalo and President of the Buffalo Common Council

Reverend Dan Ranney, Protestant Chaplain, Great Meadow Correctional Facility

Pr. Paul Rees-Rohrbacher, St. John's Lutheran Church, Albany

The Rev. Canon W. Blake Rider,Canon to the Ordinary, Episcopal Diocese of New York

Reverend Amy Rohler, Community Helping Hands

Reverend Margaret Rose, The Episcopal Church

Rabbi Jay Rosenbaum, Temple Israel of Lawrence

Rabbi Jeremy Ruberg, New City Jewish Center

Reverend Horace Sanders, Jr., Mt. Olbiet Missionary Baptist

Rabbi Craig Scheff, Orangetown Jewish Center

Rabbi Elliot Schier, The Albert Einstein Synagogue

Reverend Seth Zuiho Segall, White Plains Zen

Susan Semegram, Lake Placid Synagogue

Reverend Dr. William S. Shillady, Executive Director of the United Methodist City Society.

The Rt. Rev. Allen K. Shin, Bishop Suffragan, The Episcopal Diocese of New York

Teressa M. Sivers, First United Methodist Church of Oneonta

Aaron Spoonhour, First Baptist Church of Warrensburg

Rabbi Michael Stanger, Old Westbury Hebrew Congregation

Rabbi Joshua Strom, Congregation B'nai Yisrael

Reverend Dr. Betty J. Tom, Pastor/Servant Leader of First Presbyterian Church

Rabbi Joseph Topek, Hillel Foundation at Stony Brook University

Imam Faiq Uddin, Masjid Abu Hurairah, Astoria-Queens

Reverend Noel Vanek, Community Church of the Pelhams, United Church of Christ

Jodi and Frank Vernol, First Baptist Church of Kingston

Rabbi Pamela Wax, Westchester Jewish Community Services

Reverend Jeff Wells, The Church of the Village

Reverend Mary Robinson White, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

Reverend Dr. Robert A. White, First Reformed Church

Rabbi Shohama Wiener, Temple Beth-El of City Island

Rev. Dr. William Huston Wilkinson, Institute of the Welcoming Way, Rochester

Rabbi David Wise, Hollis Hills Bayside Jewish Center

Reverend Dustin G. Wright, Pastor, Messiah Lutheran Church, Rotterdam and President, New York State Council of Churches

Maulana Mohammed Yamin, Darul-Uloom New York

Rabbi Irwin A. Zeplowitz, The Community Synagogue

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