Black faith leaders across the country have called on President Biden to support a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, arguing that his current stance could alienate Black voters in the 2024 election.
Many pastors and bishops acknowledge that their parishioners are concerned about Biden’s stance on the conflict, which could hurt support, especially among young black voters.
In an appearance on “CNN This Morning,” the Rev. Cynthia Hale, pastor of Ray of Hope Church of Christ, said she hopes Biden will change his position and make his calls for a ceasefire stronger. Ta.
“He hasn’t lost my vote yet, but I’m teetering on the brink, as are many of my parishioners,” she said Monday.
Young people slam cease-fire stance as ‘Massacre Joe’: Biden is ‘absolutely disgusting’
President Biden could lose support from black voters over his stance on the Israeli-Hamas war, according to black faith leaders. (AP/Evan Vucci/CNN/Screenshot)
Hale said some young people in the diocese feel very strongly about the fact that they will not vote for Biden because of the tragedy happening in Gaza.
Pastor Carl Day of Christians Changing the Culture said he hasn’t heard from his diocese that people are on the verge of not voting for or against Biden, but said people are “very upset” at the moment. Ta.
“I think we need to be very mindful of the consequences and fallout that this election could have to our detriment,” he said.
“We’re scared,” said the Rev. Timothy McDonald, senior pastor of First Iconium Baptist Church in Atlanta. he told the New York Times. “And we’ve been talking about it. It’s going to be very difficult to convince people to go to the polls again and vote for Biden.”
Biden’s support among the Black community has declined in recent years, with his approval ratings dropping 25% since 2021, according to a Fox News poll. At one point, it had an approval rating of 87%, but that number dropped to 62% in 2023.
The president headed to South Carolina on Saturday to try to shore up support among black voters. Biden was repeatedly interrupted by pro-Palestinian demonstrators during his remarks.
Young people slam cease-fire stance as ‘Massacre Joe’: Biden is ‘absolutely disgusting’
President Joe Biden speaks about the war in Israel and Ukraine from the Oval Office of the White House on Thursday, Oct. 19. (AP/Jonathan Ernst/Pool)
The Rev. Michael Bride, founder of the Black Church PAC, said the war in Gaza is not a “fringe issue” among Black Christians.
“Many of us feel that this administration has lost its way on this point.”
Barbara Williams-Skinner, co-organizer of the National African American Clergy Network, said black clergy believe that war, poverty, and racism are all interconnected, which makes them resilient to conflict. He emphasized that it is customary to express opposition.
But she said the Israel-Hamas war, unlike previous wars in Iran and Afghanistan, had created “deep-rooted anxieties among black people” not seen since the civil rights movement.
The White House did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
In October, a delegation of Black faith leaders met with the White House and members of the Congressional Black Caucus and called for an end to the fighting. Hundreds of pastors also signed an open letter to Democrats calling for a ceasefire and paid for advertising in newspapers across the country.
Black voters dissatisfied with Biden, Democratic strategists fear it could ‘threat Biden’s re-election’: NY Times
Israeli soldiers are stationed on Israel’s southern border with the Gaza Strip on Monday, January 29th. (AP/Tsafril Abayov)
Some bishops said Mr. Biden would continue to have support from the black community as long as he addressed the conflict in good faith, but six black faith leaders who spoke to the Times said they would speak during services. He said he is considering rescinding invitations to Democratic politicians seeking
He also said he was deciding whether to withhold public support for Biden’s re-election campaign until the Biden administration commits to supporting a ceasefire.
The Rev. Frederick D. Haines, senior pastor of Friendship West Baptist Church, said Black Americans have noticed “glaring contradictions” in Biden’s response to the war.
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“When you hear the president say the words ‘redeem the soul of America,’ this is a stain, a scar on the soul of America. There’s something about this that becomes hypocritical,” he said.
FOX News’ Bailey Hill contributed to this report.
