“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
– Proverbs 31 : 8 – 9 (NIV)
Beloved,
We write with grief and righteous indignation in response to the August 11th announcement by the President of the United States that the administration will assume control of the Metropolitan Police Department, deploy hundreds of National Guard troops into Washington, D.C., and forcibly remove unhoused residents from the city’s streets.
This decision comes despite the undeniable truth that violent crime in D.C. has fallen to a 30-year low—down more than 26% from last year. It is not about protecting public safety; it is a display of power unlike any other in modern times—a heavy-handed show of federal force aimed at a city that, while no longer majority-Black, still stands as one of the most important centers of Black political, cultural, and civic life in America.
Even D.C.’s duly elected mayor, Muriel Bowser, called this takeover “an outrageous affront to the people of the District of Columbia and the democratic principles we hold dear,” further describing it as “unsettling and unprecedented.” She emphasized that it “deeply undermines local self-governance and disrespects the will of D.C. residents.”
This action is not an isolated event—it reflects a broader pattern: militarized force after the murder of George Floyd in 2020, failure to protect the U.S. Capitol on January 6, disregard for immigrants, and the targeting of cities with large Black populations and Black mayors—Baltimore, New York, Chicago, Atlanta—using rhetoric and policy to stigmatize rather than support them. Now, unhoused residents are treated as if they were trash to be removed, rather than neighbors to be served—contrary to Christ’s teaching.
Our faith compels us to stand against such misuse of authority: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8 (NIV)
From our birth in 1796, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church—The Freedom Church—has stood as a refuge and a prophetic voice against forces that deny dignity, liberty, and self-determination to God’s people. We were founded by women and men who refused to be silenced in the face of oppression, and we have carried that mantle through every generation.
This moment demands that same resolve.
To our pastors: Preach prophetically and teach with clarity and courage. Help our people understand the spiritual, moral, and civic stakes of this moment and how to stand strong for the cause of Christ in this moment and those to come.
To our congregations: Register and encourage others to register to vote—an act of stewardship over the freedom our ancestors fought to secure. Monitor legislation and speak against any action designed to silence our voices. Support Black-owned businesses, especially Black media outlets who are charged with truthfully telling our stories. Stay engaged in the process—refusing a “woe is us” mentality and taking hold of the power God has given us to shape the future.
To all people of faith: Understand that what happens in Washington, D.C., matters far beyond its borders. When the rights and dignity of one community can be overridden without cause, the rights and dignity of all communities are at risk.
We will not be silent in the face of policies that devalue human life and dignity. We will stand as The Freedom Church has always stood—in the gap, on the wall, and in the streets—declaring that justice is not for sale, and human dignity is not negotiable.
“But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”
– Amos 5:24 (NIV)
In Christ’s service,
The Board of Bishops
The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
This 15th Day of August, in the Year of Our Lord 2025
Bishop Brian R. Thompson, Sr., President
Bishop Darryl B. Starnes, Senior Bishop
Bishop W. Darin Moore
Bishop George D. Crenshaw
Bishop Hilliard Dogbe
Bishop U.U. Effiong
Bishop Eric L. Leake
Bishop Daran H. Mitchell
Bishop Anthony N. Witherspoon
Bishop Melanie Miller
Bishop Dwayne A. Walker
Bishop Bernando J. Ngunza
Bishop Seth O. Lartey, Located
Bishop Joseph Johnson, Retired
Bishop Marshall H. Strickland, Retired
Bishop Nathaniel Jarrett, Jr., Retired
Bishop George W. C. Walker, Sr., Retired
Bishop S. Chuka Ekeman, Retired
Bishop Warren M. Brown, Retired
Bishop Kenneth Monroe, Retired
Bishop Dennis V. Proctor, Retired
Bishop Michael A. Frencher, Sr., Retired
