Philadelphia Congregation Joins Fight For Justice In #SandraBland Police Incident

July 18, 2015 - PRLog -- One week after 28 year old Sandra Bland was found dead in a Texas jail cell, there is a groundswell of support for her family and friends demanding answers in her death. Now Mother Bethel AME Church in Philadelphia is joining the call for justice and is holding a solidarity rally and march on Sunday, July 19th at 11am. The rally of support will begin inside the church's Lecture Hall located at 419 South 6th Street in Philadelphia. Immediately following the rally, around 11:30am, church members will take part in a "Unity Prayer Walk" marching from the church to Wececoe Playground for prayer. Wececoe Playground is the former site of the Bethel Burial Ground and final resting place for many of the founders of the AME Church.

Mother Bethel's Pastor says they are demonstrating alongside the pastor and members of their sister congregation, DuPage AME near Chicago where Sandra Bland was a member. "I spoke with her pastor, my colleague, Rev. James Miller," says Rev. Mark Tyler, Pastor of Mother Bethel AME Church. "Pastor Miller says Ms. Bland was in worship recently and was optimistic about her future and her new job. Her mysterious death has raised serious questions that deserve answers that will only come from an independent investigation."

Pastor Tyler is Co-Chair of the Clergy Caucus of POWER (www.powerphiladelphia.org) and will lead the rally along with Rabbi Shawn Zevit of MiskanShalom Synagogue, the other Co-Chair of the Clergy Caucus of POWER. Other speakers include: Pennsylvania State Senator Art Haywood who has authored legislation calling for an independent prosecutor in police investigations; Tonya Brown Dickerson, the mother of Brandon Tate Brown who was shot and killed by Philadelphia police, and Laniece Williams, an organizer with The Philly Coalition for REAL Justice.

For more information on Sunday's rally and march in support of Sandra Bland in Philadelphia contact Mother Bethel AME Church at (215) 925-0616 (tel:(215)%20925-0616). All media inquires should be directed via email to tylermadepr@gmail.com or by calling (609) 247-2632.