Amid The Coronavirus Pandemic, Rev. Al Sharpton Calls Upon Faith Leaders To Discontinue Gatherings & Services For Palm Sunday & Holy Week Leading Into Easter

Rev. Al Sharpton (NAN), Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, and the Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC) Convene National Conference Call to Discuss the Need for Pastors to Discontinue Services That Aren’t Online

(April 1, 2020) – Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton convened a call with the heads of the nation’s largest historically Black religious denominations and other faith leaders to call on clergy to refrain from having church services as we head into Palm Sunday and Easter Holy Week. The public appeal is being made following the arrest of a Louisiana megachurch pastor for holding Sunday services and a separate criminal action against a Florida pastor, who held services over the weekend that drew large crowds, willfully violating a local coronavirus stay-at-home order.

According to Rev. Al Sharpton “I have been arrested over thirty times for civil rights and civil disobedience—twice for ninety days and another forty-five days for standing up for people’s civil and human rights. These separate incidents involving leaders of faith putting people’s lives in danger is not a matter of civil or human rights, nor is it a statement of faith. It is self-aggrandizing, reckless behavior of those Shepherds who would risk their sheep rather than lead their sheep.”

Under the leadership of Reverend Al Sharpton and NAN Board Chair Reverend W. Franklyn Richardson, Chairman of the Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC), a series of calls will continue to be conducted to discourage the growing number of churches that say Palm Sunday and Holy Week should be observed in person.

About National Action Network (NAN)

National Action Network is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the nation with chapters throughout the entire United States. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, nationality or gender. For more information go to www.nationalactionnetwork.net.