Paul Bass Photos
Elicker (above) addresses Bethel congregants (below).
Days after an opposing campaign attacked his wife and her fellow federal prosecutors as Trump co-conspirators, mayoral candidate Justin Elicker took to the pulpit Sunday to urge New Haveners to transcend “political rhetoric” and “come together as a city.”
Elicker, who is challenging incumbent Toni Harp for the Democratic mayoral nomination, made that pitch on Goffe Street during Sabbath services at Bethel AME Church, one of the city’s most prominent African-American congregations.
The church’s pastor, the Rev. Steven Cousin Jr. (pictured Sunday), has personally backed Harp, including introducing her at the opening of her campaign headquarters. In his introduction of Elicker Sunday, Cousin stated that “in Bethel Church we are nonpartisan. Everyone is welcome to come address our congregation.” He also noted that when Elicker ran for mayor in 2013, he was the only one of six candidates to write Bethel a thank-you note after addressing the congregation.
During an emotional four-minute address, delivered without notes, Elicker did not mention Harp by name. He did reference her campaign’s statement this week that accused Elicker’s wife Natalie Elicker, an assistant U.S. attorney; Democratic Town Committee “leaders”; and the Trump administration of conspiring to launch a “baseless” investigation of her administration and spread word about it in order to help Justin Elicker’s election campaign. (City Hall received a lengthy federal subpoena for public records; read about that here.) Natalie Elicker took her job in 2016, before Donald Trump was president, and when an Obama appointee ran the office.
This week was the second time that the Harp campaign has issued a public statement seeking to tie Elicker to Donald Trump. (Click here to read about the first.)
In his remarks Sunday at Bethel, Elicker turned that accusation back on his opponent, comparing the attack on his wife and on federal authorities to President Trump’s tactics. He called on New Haven to reject those tactics.
“There were some things said about my wife,” Elicker remarked. “Oftentimes we let emotions get the best of us. Emotions drive our decisions. … I have to remind myself not to let my emotions drive my decisions.”
“We so often focus on the political rhetoric and the bad-mouthing of the institutions that we see from Donald Trump — but not just Donald Trump, but so many politicians out there. The end in my view does not justify the means,” Elicker continued.
“We must acknowledge and respect the institutions of law. We must acknowledge and respect each other. We have so much division in our nation right now and in our city. I believe that instead of the political rhetoric we need to join hands and work together” — at that point some hands in the sanctuary joined together in response — “and not demoralize people who might have a position against us, not alienate others because they look differently from us or speak differently from us or because they happen to be in that moment our political opponents.
“It’s time that we come together as a city.
“And I pledge that I won’t let my emotions get the best of me. And that together we must rise above those emotions and work to address the challenges in our state, our nation and our city.” (Harp later declined comment on Elicker’s remarks.)
Elicker said in his remarks to the congregation that the most important news stories of the week weren’t about New Haven political controversies. They were about the father and 23-month-old daughter who drowned trying to cross a river into the United States; and about the 8‑year-old boy shot in the leg Friday night in Newhallville.
“That is the real challenge that we must address today,” Elicker said.
After speaking, Elicker returned to the pews as Rev. Cousin dived into his weekly sermon.
First Cousin praised “Brother Elicker” for “hit[ting] the nail on the head” about the need to focus on the gun violence in New Haven that included Friday night’s shooting.
Then Cousin riffed at length on biblical parables about the prophet Elijah, about the need to turn to the Lord when misfortune strikes and “your brook dries up.”
Another highlight of the service: Marcella and keyboardist Dudley Flake, members of New Haven’s musically legendary Flake/Monk family, sang a duet to mark their 40th wedding anniversary. Away from the discord that permeates so much of American society six days a week, Bethel was filled with love and harmony.
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD…Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD…Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbor. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith." (Jeremiah 23:1-2,16,30-31)
The white liberals control the Negro and the Negro vote by controlling the Negro leaders. As long as they control the Negro leaders, they can also control and contain the Negro's struggle, and they can control the Negro's so-called revolt.
Malcom X
The contemporary church is often a weak ineffectual voice, with an uncertain sound. It is so often the supporter of the status quo. The power structure is consoled by the church's silence, but the judgment of God is upon the church as never before------DR. KING
In my talk with black ministers, I inform them that you can't preach the glories of Heaven, while ignoring social conditions in your own community that causes men to live an earthly hell-----DR. KING (from his interview with Alex Haley)
"Is the Church fulfilling a purely religious role when by its silence or friendly relationships it lends legitimacy to dictatorial and oppressive government?"
―Gustavo Gutierrez