PRESS RELEASE - Thursday, Sept. 29, 2021 - Cleveland, OH –
On the steps of the Historic Greater Friendship Baptist Church in Glenville, a coalition of Cleveland’s clergy—led by the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss Jr.— formally endorsed Justin Bibb to be the next Mayor of Cleveland.
56 faith leaders across Greater Cleveland stood in unity to give Justin Bibb their historic endorsement.
Moss, an icon in the civil rights movement, reminded Clevelanders that in the face of giants, we can be of service at any age. To those in doubt, he reflected on the arc of history that brought us to this moment.
“Tell them that Alexander Hamilton joined the movement to create a new nation at the age of 19. Tell them that Teddy Roosevelet became president of the United States just past 40. Tell them that John Fitzgerald Kennedy, in his early 40s, became president of the United States. Tell them that John Lewis, at the age of 24, became a national spokesperson for liberation and justice. Tell them that Martin Luther King Jr. received the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 35. Tell them that Malala received the same prize at 17.”
Moss urged Clevelanders to vote on Election Day and “make sure you have a ballot in your hand, a vision in your heart and the name Justin Bibb on the ballot.”
Bibb, a son of the church and a member of Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, said he was honored to receive overwhelming support from the large group of community leaders.
“As mayor, I’ll work with ministers and clergy as an extension of City Hall to address violent crime, improve policing and ensure equal justice for all,” Bibb said.