Reverend Dr. Kevin R. Johnson of the Historic Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem Endorses Andrew Cuomo for Mayor
Joins Other Prominent Clergy Members Backing Governor Cuomo
Andrew Cuomo is the most qualified leader to create affordable housing, revitalize our economy, keep us safe, and he's also going to stand up to Donald Trump.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, candidate for Mayor of New York City, today received the key endorsement of the Reverend Dr. Kevin R. Johnson of the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. Rev. Dr. Johnson said Cuomo is the best and most qualified candidate to address this city’s ongoing affordability and public safety crises and to stand up to President Trump.
The official backing follows Governor Cuomo’s visit to the historic church last Sunday, and marks the first endorsement for a mayoral candidate made by Reverend Johnson since he has presided over Abyssinian Baptist Church. Abyssinian is one of the oldest and most storied African-American Baptist churches in the country and a rich cultural landmark in New York City.
An endorsement video featuring Governor Cuomo and Rev. Dr. Johnson can be seen here.
“Andrew Cuomo is the most qualified leader to create affordable housing, revitalize our economy, keep us safe, and he’s also going to stand up to Donald Trump,” said Reverend Dr. Kevin R. Johnson. “Lets elect Andrew Cuomo mayor of New York City.”
“Well I can’t tell you how much the Reverend’s endorsement means to me, and his support and his friendship,” said Governor Cuomo. “Abyssinian really is such a historic establishment, it’s done so much for the community. What the Reverend brings is a depth of knowledge of housing and community development and how to get things done. And a big job that we have going forward is actually going to be making change, getting that affordable housing built, getting community development done, and knowing how to do that is going to be an invaluable asset. It’s going to take a lot to turn this city around, and it’s not going to be about ‘me’, it’s going to be about ‘we.’”
Rev. Dr. Johnson’s endorsement adds to the nearly 50 clergy endorsements Governor Cuomo has received in his bid for Mayor of New York City. Clergy members include:
- Reverend Dr. Johnnie Green of Mount Neboh Baptist Church
- Pastor Sam Nicolas, Evangelical Crusade Christian Church
- Lady Faride Nicolas, Evangelical Crusade Christian Church
- Assistant, Daphnee Champaign, New Hope Christian Fellowship
- Pastor Colleen Kendall, Jesus Deliverance Mission
- Pastor Widmarc Pierre, Free Methodist Church of Bethlehem
- Bishop, Mervin Harding, Grace Deliverance Taberncale
- Reverend Dr., Henry Joseph, Grace Church International
- Minister, Nicole Langlaiste, Worldwide Association of Small Churches
- Pastor, Mullery Laurent, Beraca Baptist Church
- Reverend Dr., Allen Martin, Northeastern Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist
- Pastor, Tyrone Stevenson, Hope City Church
- Pastor, James Thornton, Salem Missionary Baptist Church
- Pastor, Rode Valme, Fernande Valme Ministries Inc. (F.V.M)
- Bishop Dr. Cheryl Ault-Barker, Consuming Fire Industries
- Reverend Shon Adkins, Antioch Baptist Church
- Reverend. Dr. Tony Baker, St. Philips Baptist Church
- Pastor Jamal Brantley, Grace City Church
- Reverend. Dr. Joseph Chukwu, Helping Hands Ministry
- Pastor David Celestin, Premiere Eglise D'Apocalypse
- Pastor Sam Celestin, Family Life Worship Center
- Reverend. Dr. Phil Craig, Greater Springfield Community Church
- Pastor Zulima Cox, Family Life Worship Center
- Reverend James Duckett, Fort Mott Baptist Church
- Pastor James Duncan, Citadel Cathedral of Praise and Worship
- Bishop Orlando Findlayter, New Hope Christian Fellowship
- Reverend. Craig Gaddy, Friendship Baptist Church
- Bishop Vaden Grant, Victory International Fellowship
- Pastor Carlos Haynes, Faith Assemblies of God Church
- Pastor Khalil James, Mount Zion AME Church
- Reverend Alfred Joseph, Bethesda Church of God
- Reverend Kathy Lindsey, St. Phillips Baptist Church
- Reverend. David Kelley, Christ Fellowship Baptist Church
- Pastor Patricia Malcolm, Churches United to Save and Heal
- Pastor Dorian Malloy, Carolina Baptist Church
- Bishop Wilmary Maxime, New Covenant Church
- Reverend Greg Merriweather, Mt. Olivet Baptist Church
- Reverend Faithlyn Morrison, New Hope Christian Fellowship
- Pastor James Richmond, Flatbush SDA Church
- Bishop Calvin Rice, New Jamaica Worship Center
- Pastor Brian Scott, Union Baptist Church
- Reverend Dr. Carl L. Washington Jr, New Mount Zion Baptist Church
- Reverend Dr. Lorenzo Williamson, Deeper Life Tabernacle Inc.
- Reverend Alonza Wright, New Canaan Baptist Church
- Reverend Patrick Young, First Baptist Church
Throughout his career in public service, Governor Cuomo has been a champion for working New Yorkers. He raised wages for millions, protected the right to organize when the Supreme Court tried to break the back of the labor movement, increased access to healthcare, enacted the nation's strongest paid family leave program and expanded apprenticeships, vocational training, and workforce development programs. He also advanced the most substantial infrastructure program in a generation, including the Second Avenue Subway, the Moynihan Train Hall and the new Kosciuszko Bridge and the new JFK and LaGuardia Airports – all major projects built with union labor with nation-leading utilization rates of minority and women-owned businesses (MWBEs).
Reverend Dr. Johnson joins U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres, Democratic Organization of Queens County and Chairman Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, former New York State Comptroller Carl McCall, New York State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, New York State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., New York State Senator Sanders Jr., former Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Brooklyn Democratic Chair, Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the Staten Island Democratic Party, Assembly Member Charles Fall, Assembly Member Eddie Gibbs, Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia, Assembly Member Latrice Walker, Assembly Member Erik Dilan, Assembly Member Jordan Wright, Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato, Assembly Member Sam Berger, Assembly Member Vivian Cook, Assembly Member John Zaccaro, Assembly Member William Colton, Assembly Member David Weprin, Assembly Member Edward Braunstein, Assembly Member Clyde Vanel, Assembly Member Alicia Hyndman, Council Member Kamillah Hanks, Council Member Farah N. Louis, Council Member Susan Zhuang, Council Member Darlene Mealy, Council Member Lynn Schulman, the New York City Deputy Sheriffs’ Benevolent Association, New York City Coalition of the International Union of the Operating Engineers, The Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2, Teamsters Local 237, Local 3 IBEW, New York City and Vicinity District Council of Carpenters, District Council 9 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, 35 District Leaders across the city, former National Director of the Anti-Defamation League Abe Foxman, the Village Reform Democratic Club, Taminent Regular Democratic Club, American Jewish Congress, and the Italian American Leadership Council in endorsing Governor Cuomo for Mayor of New York City.
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