Black Bay Area leaders call for unity against ongoing attacks from White House: ‘We are not afraid’
By Anser Hassan
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — At the Third Baptist Church in San Francisco, community leaders united to condemn what they called President Donald Trump’s ongoing attack on Black people, Black history and Black equality.
“We are in a state of evil on the march in these United States of America,” said Reverend Amos Brown, pastor emeritus of Third Baptist Church.
Brown said it’s important for the Black community to form an effective response to threats coming from the White House. Most recently, Trump suggested sending the National Guard to Oakland.
“We are not, in the Bay Area, going to stand by and idly sigh while Donald Trump threatens to take over the police department in Oakland, California,” Brown said.
Also among the speakers was Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, once again defending her city.
“So, he has once again attacked Black people now,” Lee said. “We are not afraid, and we will not be silenced.”
Lee said she won’t let the president turn the clock back on civil rights. She called for unity, especially among the Black community.
“Our ancestor built this country, and no president can erase that. None,” Lee said.
The gathering was held on Aug. 31 to coincide with International Day for People of African Descent.
Brigette Leblanc is president of the San Francisco African American Chamber of Commerce. She said a lot of Bay Area Black-owned businesses already do a lot of business in Africa and says there are opportunities for even more.
“That we need to come together and look at thing that will actually help us economically, as well as all the other resources that are in Africa, coming to this area as well,” LeBlanc said.
Jonathan Butler is president of the San Francisco branch of the NAACP. He said, despite the rhetoric coming from Washington, D.C., the region needs to unite to be effective.
“If we don’t come together, if we don’t stick together, and not be distracted with what’s going on in that White House, we will separate and disperse out and not be able to accomplish what we want,” Butler said.