Excerpts from clips compiled by Roland S. Martin on YouTube
Martin: Black pastors from across the country certainly were not holding back from the pulpit on Sunday. Here’s a few of what some of them had to say.
We’re going to start with Pastor Jamal Bryant Newport Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta:
Pastor Bryant: I’m concerned about all of these Negro preachers who’ve been in fact talking about that this man that was killed was the answer to Christ in the earth. Y’all ain’t saying that they haven’t. Moments of silence in black churches all over the country over a man that was racist, you know, white supremacist.
How dareyou compare him to Martin Luther King. The only thing, that Charlie Kirk and Martin Luther King got in common is — both of them was killed by a white man. After that they got nothing elsein common.
In the name of Jesus, I pray: That you’ll perform a miracle in this country. It does not necessitate turning water into wine. We’re asking you that you will shift [to] gun control in this country. . . .
Doctor Marcus D Cosby. Senior Pastor, Wheeler Ave. Baptist Church, Houston:
Last week in Denver was the 47th school shooting this year. And we gotta be careful. Don’t lose our soul. And not just get so comfortable with the hell that’s raging in our streets. We still got to be conscious of this. And they’re trying to rob us of our song.
I really despise the way that Kirk was killed last week. I despised the way he was killed. Shouldn’t have gone down like that.
But political violence ain’t nothing new to this nation.
Now, let’s be clear. Let’s be clear. They killed our ancestors over political violence. That was political violence, right?
Knees on necks?That’s political violenceright there.
Shooting you downfor having a having some twists, some Skittles and a drink? That’s political violenceright there.
Just to be clear, this ain’t new. I want all them to be just as concerned about Trayvon as they were about Kirk, and just just concerned about my Brother and just got shot last night as they were about the Brother they got shot couple days ago.
And while I’m on that, Brother, you and I need to be very careful. All of us need to be careful of the public positions that we take.
Be very careful: Mr. Kirk said for years that sometimes there have to be some live sacrifices to protect the 2nd Amendment. I’m not making it up. Some lives have to be taken to protect the Second Amendment.
Got to be careful of the positions you take. Could they might just come back and take you.
I don’t — I am not applauding his death. That boy should not have died. His children got to be raised without a father. His wife has to deal with living without her husband. It should not have gone down like that.
But the Bible says, “if you live by the sword. . . . “(pause)
Be careful of your public positions, because the Bible says, “You’re gonna reap what you sow . . . .”
