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Members of the Brooklyn clergy pose for a photograph with PEF leaders and staff at the Desmond Hotel on March 5, 2024, prior to their meeting with the governor’s office.
Members of the Brooklyn clergy pose for a photograph with PEF leaders and staff at the Desmond Hotel on March 5, 2024, prior to their meeting with the governor’s office.
State Senator Zellnor Myrie, top, and Assemblymember Brian Cunningham, whose legislative districts include SUNY Downstate, were among the attendees of the PEF roundtable.
State Senator Zellnor Myrie, top, and Assemblymember Brian Cunningham, whose legislative districts include SUNY Downstate, were among the attendees of the PEF roundtable.

Following the multi-union rally at SUNY Downstate on Feb. 29, PEF invited faith leaders from Brooklyn and the surrounding area to Albany on March 4 and 5 to talk with legislators and other officials about the importance of saving the state-run hospital in Brooklyn.  

Nearly a dozen clergy members participated, sharing the negative responses they’ve heard from their congregations about the proposal and urging lawmakers to keep the pressure on SUNY Central and the governor’s office to rethink the plan. The faith leaders in attendance were: Rev. Dr. Joseph Chukwu (Helping Hands Ministry), Rev. Dr. Kirkpatrick Cohall (Lenox Road Baptist Church), Bishop Orlando Findlayter (New Hope Christian Fellowship), Rev. Dr. Charles Galbreath Alliance Tabernacle), Fayth Henderson (Church of God of East Flatbush), Pastor Edward Hinds (Rugby Deliverance Tabernacle), Pastor James Richmond (Seventh Day Adventist Church), Rev. Dr. Winston Fyne (Beulah Church of the Nazarene), and Rev. Craig Wright (People’s Institutional AME Church).

The following concerned legislators attended the roundtable discussion: State Senators Jabari Brisport, Iwen Chu, Robert Jackson, Zellnor Myrie, Kevin Parker, and Gustavo Rivera, as well as Assemblymembers Rodneyse Bichotte, Brian Cunningham, Chantel Jackson, Phara Souffrant Forrest, Latrice Walker, and Helene Weinstein.

On March 5, the clergy members and PEF staff met with representatives from Gov. Hochul’s office. PEF President Wayne Spence sent the following to the clergy members who participated:    

“Thank you to everyone who participated in PEF’s roundtable on March 4 bringing together faith leaders and elected State officials to talk about the importance of SUNY Downstate. Those conversations helped us to have an informed conversation with Governor Hochul’s chief of staff and I think we made some real progress. We had a productive two days, but this fight is not over.  

We will continue to keep the pressure on SUNY Central and those who have devalued and disrespected Downstate for far too long. This powerful coalition is determined to change that and make sure everyone in New York knows: Brooklyn Needs Downstate! We will continue to work to expand our coalition to educate the community and save Downstate. I hope you would heed any call to action that may come from us to continue the fight.”