June 1, 2020

As a result of the killing of George Floyd, an African-American male who died on May 25, 2020, while handcuffed by police officers and lying face down on a street in Minneapolis, Minnesota; it is needful for me to state my position on this senseless act of police brutality that represents continued systemic racism and injustices enacted against African-Americans and people of color in America.

 Let it be known that I go on record condemning in the strongest terms possible racism, discrimination and violence against people of color –particularly such violence as enacted at the hands of law enforcement. I will continue to call upon law enforcement officials to publicly denounce and bring to justice those individuals within their ranks who abuse their authority when interacting with the citizenry. I also call upon law enforcement agencies to increase diversity training and improve policing procedures when interacting with communities of color in every effort to reduce the effects of racial injustice in over-policed neighborhoods. Similarly, I call upon local, state, and federal officials to amend legislation that disproportionately effects communities of color and enact new legislation that will safeguard and insure fairness and equity to all citizens of the United States of America.

 Understanding the complexity of mitigating racial injustice, and the central role community partners play in social justice work, I join the voice with civic and religious leaders across the nation in pledging to work for community healing, justice and reconciliation. Drawing upon the example of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I encourage peaceful demonstrations and cooperative efforts to affect positive and ethical community change.

 The Holy Scriptures allude that there are instances and occurrences which will warrant the need to become angry; but denounces wrong doing (Ephesians 4:26). Therefore I further condemn the use of violence and destruction of property; and further speak against those who commit such acts, especially anarchists and others who purport to speak against injustices but are in reality perpetrating their own personal agendas.

Bishop A. Glenn Brady

Senior Pastor, the New Bethel Church

Diocesan Bishop, the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc.