Brooklyn churches organize New York faithful for 'Prayerful Protest'
Patricia Desantos kneeled over a Bible in prayer, her pages open to the Beatitudes, in front of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn where protesters have gathered each evening for days. Photo by Liza Vandenboom.
NEW YORK — Hundreds of protesters in face masks and T-shirts with phrases like “Jesus saves” and “Let justice flow like a river” filled up downtown Brooklyn’s Bergen street Tuesday evening for a “Prayerful Protest” march against racism and police brutality after George Floyd’s death.
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Shouts erupted in the distance: “No justice! No peace!” From the front of the crowd, an alternate chant competed: “We want peace and we’ll march until we have it!” and “Truth and faith!”
Pastors Justin Mattera and James Roberson from Zion Church and Bridge Church in Brooklyn wanted to gather the voices of New York City’s churches in solidarity and prayer for racial reconciliation. On June 2, in collaboration with over 100 New York congregations, that plan became reality. The pastors estimate about 1,000 people showed up to march.
Pastor James Roberson of Bridge Church giving instructions to protestors. Photo by Liza Vandenboom.
The 6 p.m. march, originally planned for 7 p.m, was rescheduled after New York Mayor Bill de Blasio imposed a citywide curfew of 8 p.m. after riots, widespread looting of storefronts and protests that turned violent over the past few days.
Mattera and Roberson planned the Prayerful Protest on May 30. A mass social media campaign grabbed the interest of churches and churchless-faithful across the city.
“I felt like the church’s voice on justice needs to be heard in the city,” Mattera said. “The best way to do that, I thought, was a joint protest centered on a prayerful attitude and the idea that God is a God of justice and he hears when we cry out.”
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Perched on a ladder, with a base swallowed by people, Roberson shouted over blaring sirens. The crowd quieted to listen.
“Some of you are here because you love God. Some of you are here because you love attention, and we’ve already been told by the police that Antifa has penetrated our ranks,” Roberson said. “Their goal is to bring attention to their cause by disrupting the city. We want to bring a blessing to the city, to bring grace to this city.”
He gave firm instructions to all those at his feet: if you see someone with a violent sign, ask them to take it down. If the police come, do not resist arrest. If violence breaks out, distance yourselves from the instigators. March and pray, and be home by curfew.
A mother and her daughter at the “Prayerful Protest” on June 2. Photo by Liza Vandenboom.
At the corner of Fifth Avenue in Brooklyn, a young man and woman handed out free supplies. Their van, stocked to the brim with water bottles, hand sanitizer, face masks, snacks and first aid, had a cardboard sign covering the windshield reading “BLM” for “Black Lives Matter.”
The pair, while not part of the prayer march, wanted to promote peaceful protesting.
“We’re not associated with a faith group,” said Marissa Clider, the young woman. “We’re actually going to the Barclays Center protest after this, but this is our contribution to help keep them going.”
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Since last week, protesters have met at Barclays Center in Brooklyn at 7 p.m. every night to march, protest and demonstrate. The Barclays Center was also set as the second rallying point for the prayer march.
As the march progressed, fire escapes and sidewalks became integral parts of the event.
Zach Schaffer and his friends from synagogue. Photo by Liza Vandenboom.
An elderly woman, cautious not to contract the coronavirus, stood isolated on the sidewalk with a sign that read “Pray for peace + justice.” A family with young children passed out free water from a corner. A young man sang hymns from his balcony.
Zach Schaffer, along with two friends from his synagogue, joined the Christians in protest.
“I think the religious protest movements in this country have been the most impactful spiritually and politically,” he said. “I think if we want to make change, it's going to come from faith-based bodies and spiritual warfare, not violent warfare.”
He marched with his friends, wearing necklaces with The Star of David and carrying signs that read “Jews for black lives.”
Photo by Liza Vandenboom.
As the crowd chugged toward Barclay’s Center, Jasmine Wood stood on the sidewalk in front of the stadium, her baby in a stroller beside her. She held a sign that read “Jesus can work it out” as she cheered for the protesters.
“This is a church-led protest,” she said. “They’re praying, in addition to donating and organizing and voting, and all the things we’re going to keep doing. They’re praying.”
As the night progressed, police presence intensified. Helicopters circled the area, police cars fought their way through crowds, and groups of officers stood behind protective railing.
A small subset of protesters shouted “racist pigs!” at officers congregated in front of Barclays Station. Behind them, Patricia Desantos kneeled over a Bible in prayer, her pages open to the Beatitudes, eight blessings Jesus proclaimed, including “blessed are the peacemakers.”
“It is sad that we’re here, but as the church, we have to be here,” Desantos said. “You can’t be a judge, jury and prosecutor. These cops, not all cops, are just being executioners.”
She played worship music through a speaker. In front of her a group of demonstrators not affiliated with the prayer march held hands in a circle and sang along.
Mohammed Widdi weaved through the crowd of prayer march participants, passing out water.
Protesters with signs at the “Prayerful Protest” on June 2. Photo by Liza Vandenboom.
“We are trying to go to the protests that are as peaceful as possible,” Widdi said. “I’m Muslim, but it is about people being on the same vibration, whether you’re Christian, Jew, whatever it is, we’re all one big family. We can work together to care about justice like God cares about justice.”
Liza Vandenboom is a student at The King’s College, an intern at Religion Unplugged and a religion columnist for the Empire State Tribune.