The Black Clergy endorse Krasner for D.A., Rhynhart for controller

The Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity endorsed civil rights attorney Larry Krasner for District Attorney and Rebecca Rhynhart for City Controller at a press conference Thursday at Calabash restaurant in Overbrook.

Krasner "has the sort of progressive view points that really make him somebody who could bring a new approach to criminal justice in the city," said Jay Broadnax, pastor of Mt. Pisgah A.M.E. Church and president of the Black Clergy.

In regards to all of the group's endorsements, Broadnax said, "When we felt strongly about a candidate and about their ethics and what they were about, we felt that it was a good opportunity for us to help the community to understand and hear from these persons."

Along with D.A. and controller, the Black Clergy endorsed a number of judicial candidates including Judge Dewayne Woodroof for Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Judge Lucretia Clemons for Court of Common Pleas and Judge Marissa Brumbach, the only female candidate for municipal court judge.

"I think right now is a particularly critical moment because there is a lot of frustration and you can do two things with frustration: You can throw up your hands and say that it's not worth engaging, or you can get involved in the fray," Broadnax said. "What we need to show people is that they can be empowered to make a difference."

District attorney candidate Krasner has garnered a lot of support from Black community leaders and organizations including Asa Khallif of Black Lives Matter Movement Pennsylvania, Philly SURG (Standing up for Racial Justice) and a major endorsement from members of the influential Northwest Coalition including former Councilwoman Marian Tasco and Councilwoman Cherelle Parker.

There is a Black candidate in the D.A.'s race, Tariq El-Shabazz, who was recently endorsed by Councilmembers Cindy Bass, Curtis Jones Jr. and Jannie Blackwell, but Krasner has been able to secure several endorsements from representatives for the Black community.

"I am not a woman yet the support we are getting from women's groups, especially women of color, is tremendous," Krasner said. "To me, there is a pattern of people who don't look like me and seem not to care too much what I look like, sharing the same values that are reflected in the platform. I suppose that's what counts."

Broadnax said El-Shabazz was a highly qualified candidate, but the Black Clergy decided to endorse Krasner because of his platform.

Krasner said the endorsement of Philadelphia's Black religious leaders holds a personal significance.

"My mother was a tent preacher in the midwest and I know she's smiling in heaven," Krasner said.

Krasner and Rhynhart both possess a government outsider appeal that helped influence the Black Clergy's influence to endorse the candidates, Broadnax said.

"I think in terms of my candidacy, I think that the city of Philadelphia does need some independent voices in city government to really have government work for the people," Rhynhart said.

She said she was honored to receive the endorsement of the Black Clergy and that her ideas, which she's touted will save the city millions, appealed to improving the city's neighborhoods.

While the judicial election that will appear on the May 16 primary ballot have been less prominent than the D.A. and controller races, Judge Marissa Brumbach said the judicial election is the most important on the ballot because judges "make decisions on issues that impact each and every one of us every day."

"I think that every endorsement citywide that comes is a thing that touches the citizens to come out and vote," Brumbach said. "Each endorsement speaks to a different set of citizens and that set of citizens then should be encouraged to come out and vote."