Reverend Dr. Gerald L. Durley: “Georgia cannot send a man to Washington to represent all of the people of Georgia who will not disclaim the allegations that he is a white nationalist sympathizer. We are asking for Mr. Mike Collins to answer questions asked by the press on his ties or commitments to any form of discrimination against any racial or ethnic group when he wants to represent all of the people of Georgia.”
Atlanta, Ga. — Today, a group of Black pastors gathered outside of Big Bethel AME church in the historic Sweet Auburn neighborhood to condemn GOP U.S. Senate nominee Mike Collins and demand he answer for his extensive ties to white nationalism.
The pastors outlined the recent controversies surrounding Collins’ ties to white nationalism and bigotry, including recent reporting that revealed that Collins’ office worked with white nationalists – including Nick Fuentes and Richard Spencer – to try to free a Holocaust denier from jail. Collins is also facing scrutiny for propping up neo-Nazi propagandist David Alan Scheer, whose close ties to the congressman include being “featured in campaign photos, registered to vote at a Collins-owned property” and “appearing at his victory party” in addition to his antisemitic harassment of a Jewish reporter, and Collins’ praise for a young man who harassed a Black woman by making monkey sounds.
WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE HERE
“Maya Angelou once said, ‘If you want to know who somebody is, ask them.’ So today we’re asking you, Mr. Mike Collins—who are you? Who do you represent? We cannot stand–-not with all the diversity in this city—for you to be connected, or even have ties,” said Reverend Dr. Gerald L. Durley. “These are not allegations; these are proven facts about your commitment to what you want to do. Not here in Georgia. We will not bend. We will not bow. We will not back up. We will not step aside. We want to hear—speak to the press, speak to the voters— about what you represent.”
“I know what racism looks like,” said Reverend Timothy McDonald, III, First Iconium Baptist Church. “I know what white supremacy looks like. I know what evangelical Christian superiority looks like. And that’s what we’re seeing in Mike Collins. No matter what he says, no matter how many times he ducks a press conference, no matter how many times he runs and hides, we know who he is. We know where he stands.”
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