Photos credit: Adrian Childress
More than a dozen of African leaders and clergy endorsed Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams for Mayor on January 13, 2021 during a press conference held on the steps of the Bronx Municipal Building. They cited his ability to lead New York back from a recession and the health and public safety crises that have disproportionately impacted communities of color.
“This New York City mayoral election is the most important election in the city’s recent history, due to the ongoing pandemic, difficult economic conditions, public safety concerns and the growing political ideological divide among New Yorkers,” said Sheikh Musa Drammeh. “After going through the backgrounds, qualifications, experiences and leadership skills needed to unify our city and overcome the daunting socioeconomic and health challenges it is facing, Mr. Eric Adams comes out on top among all other candidates running to be our next mayor. Special times require the special leadership skills that Mr. Eric Adams possesses. I therefore wholeheartedly support Mr. Adams to be our next mayor.”
“If we don’t want somebody like Eric to be our mayor, then who do we want,” asked Hajia Ramatu Ahmed, Executive Director of the African Life Center. “He has all the qualifications. With what we are seeing in America, you are the right person to bring us together. We need somebody like Eric Adams to bring us together. Without unity, there is no development.”
“I am so proud to have the support of the city’s African leaders and clergy for my campaign for mayor,” Borough President Adams said. “New York needs immediate action and bold leadership to stop the spread of COVID-19, turn around our economy, and reverse declines in public safety–and it is the people of color represented by these leaders today who will suffer the most if we do not. I know the struggles of New Yorkers because I have lived them. I will continue to fight for the underserved and forgotten communities in New York when I am in City Hall, just as I have as Borough President and throughout my life.”
“This city desperately needs leadership that both understands the struggles of New Yorkers and who has the ability and ideas to move our city forward for every community—and Eric Adams is that leader,” said Bishop Angelo Rosario, Chairman, Bronx Clergy Task Force. “With Eric in City Hall, we will finally have a leader who can deliver for the people who need help the most.”
“Working class New Yorkers are facing tremendous hardships right now, and they want Eric Adams in City Hall because he’s always been their champion,” said Mr. Sadio Barry, President, Senegalese Association. “We must elect Eric as the next mayor to ensure our city recovers the right way, lifting communities of color and other blue collar New Yorkers up as we rise out of this pandemic.”
“Eric Adams has fought side-by-side for our communities for decades to make sure our voices are heard—so when he is mayor, we will not need to tell him what we need because he will already know,” said J. Kwabena Adinkra, Chairperson, African Heritage Affairs Committee, NY. “I am proud to endorse Eric Adams for mayor on behalf of my community and all hard-working New Yorkers who need their voice to be heard at City Hall.”
Shiekh Drammeh was joined at the endorsement event by: Hajia Ramatu Ahmed, Executive Director, African Life Center; Gbenga Gbengus Subair, President, African Union Day Foundation; Alhadji Ebu Cham, Chairman, United Gambian Association; Mory Koyate, Chairman, African Immigrants Commission of NY & CT; Bishop Angelo Rosario, Chairman, Bronx Clergy Task Force; Catharine Kojo, Founder, Keymama Foundation; Marion Frampton, Chairman, TBS New Direction; Darnes Kborn Rivers, Chairman, I Am My Community, Inc.; Khady Diaby, Founder, Mother Association Keita Organization (MAKO); Al Quattlebaum, President, See Us Rise Above; Shireena Drammeh, Executive Director, Islamic Cultural Center of North America; Robert Fields Jackson; Imam Souleymane Konate, Chairman, African Imams Council; and Sadio Barry, President, Senegalese Association of America.
Adams has been endorsed by a diverse group of local elected officials and leaders including Bronx Deputy Borough President and longtime Assembly Member Aurelia Greene, Sen. Roxanne Persaud, Assembly Member Jaime WIlliams and Council Members Laurie Cumbo, Daneek Miller, Ydanis Rodriguez and Darma Diaz.
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