After facing arrest following his protesting Congress approving a budget bill that reinstates the ban on taxpayer funding of abortions in the District of Columbia, Washington mayor now faces his own protests.

In response to Mayor Vincent Gray’s protest and arrest for supporting forcing taxpayers to fund abortions of DC residents, a coalition of D.C. pastors are challenging the Mayor to stand up for “the tiniest of constituents who truly cannot speak for themselves” – the unborn children killed in the abortions.

Signed by 10 African American pastors from the District of Columbia and surrounding areas, including Bishop Harry R. Jackson, Jr. and Rev. Dean Nelson of Care Net, a national network of 1,130 pregnancy centers, an open letter to Mayor Gray reads:

“Who could have imagined during the height of the Civil Rights Movement a day when the mayor of Washington, D.C. would be arrested for protesting for the right to use tax dollars to abort babies, a disproportionate number of them black? As pastors and community leaders, we feel bewildered and betrayed.”

“Abortion is the leading cause of death in the black community nationwide. While African American women represent 13% of the female population, they undergo 37% of all abortions. As a leader charged with our protection and government, we are shocked at your passion to continue this trend with tax dollars.”

The letter also points out how the coalition of pastors are working together to open a new, privately-funded, pregnancy center in Washington, D.C. this year in order to offer women life-affirming alternatives to abortion. This center will be supported by their own congregations, non-profit organizations, and other private sources, not D.C. taxpayers, and will offer practical help, counseling, and resources to empower women to carry their pregnancies to term.

The full letter reads as follows:

April 14, 2011

Dear Mayor Gray,

Americans have a long, proud history of protesting injustice and demanding that our government live up to its Constitutional ideals. Over the years, black Americans in particular have resisted government discrimination in the form of slavery, segregation and forced sterilization. Who could have imagined during the height of the Civil Rights Movement a day when the mayor of Washington, D.C. would be arrested for protesting for the right to use tax dollars to abort babies, a disproportionate number of them black? As pastors and community leaders, we feel bewildered and betrayed.

Our city already has a 30% abortion rate (according to Planned Parenthood). Are you intent on spending taxpayer dollars to ensure this number will grow? Tragically, we have no way of knowing how many of these abortions occur on black women, because abortion reporting in Washington, D.C. is voluntary. But we know that the clinics are located in our neighborhoods, and we believe that the women who visit them need life-affirming pregnancy options not more abortions.

Abortion is the leading cause of death in the black community nationwide. While African American women represent 13% of the female population, they undergo 37% of all abortions. As a leader charged with our protection and government, we are shocked at your passion to continue this trend with tax dollars.

As a coalition, we are working to support positive solutions to unplanned pregnancies. Our goal is to open a new pregnancy resource center in Washington, D.C. this year, so that women have life-affirming and healthy alternatives to abortion. Our center will join the nationwide Care Net network of more than 1,130 pregnancy centers that provide practical help, counseling, and resources to empower women to carry their pregnancies to term.

We are well-acquainted with the growing concern about the economy and the impact of budget cuts on low-income women. Our efforts will be supported not by D.C. taxpayers, but by our own congregations, non-profit organizations, and other private sources. As you continue to speak for D.C. residents, we ask you to remember your tiniest constituents who truly cannot speak for themselves.

Sincerely,

Rev. Dean Nelson Bishop Harry R. Jackson, Jr.

Care Net Hope Christian Church

Pastor Dale Wafer Bishop Paul Gaskins

The Harvest Conquest Word of God Church

Pastor William Spence

Harvest Life Fellowship

Rev. Derek McCoy

Association of Maryland Families

Rev. William Gibbs

Antioch Baptist Church

Mrs. Day Gardner

National Black Prolife Union

Pastor Donnell Smith

Emmanuel Church of God in Christ

ACTION: Contact Mayor Gray with your message about his support for taxpayer-financed abortions here.