With only a few hours till United States President Joseph R. Biden takes to a podium and conducts a press conference with the nation’s media, some of whom have been critical of both his debate performance and his lack of full transparency on whether he will step away from the campaign, faith leaders from Georgia held their own press conference in the rotunda of the Georgia State Capitol.
Bishop Reginald Jackson, Presiding Prelate of the 6th Episcopal District of Georgia, and Rev. Timothy McDonald, the faith leader at First Iconium Baptist Church on Moreland Avenue, were very clear about why they and a dozen pastors and church leaders were there on Thursday morning.
“The Black Church will once again save America,” Rev. McDonald said. “The Black Church has saved America time and time again, and we’re going to set records again for voter turnout.”
McDonald and Bishop Jackson took questions from the assembled media in attendance, but not before they spoke about how the current presidential administration and Democratic Party need to show more unity in the face of recent opposition to Biden remaining the party’s choice for a presidential candidate.
“Democrats need to unite and fight against the enemies of democracy,” Jackson said. “We are at war. This nation is at war against MAGA, Project 2025, white nationalists, and efforts to turn back time.”
Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Jackson asked a rhetorical question to the Republican Party: “Why haven’t you asked the leader of your party to step down?”
He challenged the Democratic Party to focus more on Biden’s record during his three and a half years in office and less on the results of the first debate between him and former United States President Donald J. Trump and recent poll data that has Biden as much as six points in some cases.
“Rather than talk about how old he is,” said Jackson of Biden, “You can talk about his record.”
During his comments, Jackson mentioned the low Black unemployment rate, investments in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and the start of more Black-owned businesses during the Biden-Harris administration.
Despite his many talking points, Jackson’s most repeated message was unity within the party.
“The goal is to win,” he said. “In order to win, you have to be united.”
McDonald also used his time behind the microphones and in front of the cameras to ask questions.
“I ponder who supports Donald Trump. It’s the radical religious right. The same people who supported slavery.”
He continued, “We know the character of Donald Trump. I don’t question his character. I question the character of anyone that calls themself a Christian and supports Donald Trump.”
Jackson and McDonald took turns asking the media to distribute the right information to the voting public. They called the media ”tools” for telling the truth.
“The media is a tool,” McDonald said. “It’s a good tool. You all are supposed to tell the truth. If Donald Trump wins, you won’t have freedom of the press. We need you to get the truth out.”
The Atlanta Voice asked Jackson how important the 5:30 p.m. presidential press conference was to slowing or stopping talk of Biden’s political demise. Jackson said the opportunity for Biden to talk directly to the nation through the press is “critically important.”
“I think he will be prepared,” Jackson added. “What I like about Joe Biden is that he’ll tell the truth with or without a teleprompter.