March 6, 2025,
Rep. Marcy Carolyn Kaptur
U.S. Representative
Ohio 9th Congressional District
2314 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congresswoman Kaptur,
In the time we have known each other, I believe you have sensed my deep commitment to the people I serve at Historic Warren AME Church and the broader community. As a lifelong member of the AME Church, I am firmly grounded in the principles of social holiness and social justice that have shaped the oldest Black Church institution in the United States. As your constituent, a proud resident of Toledo, and the pastor of this historic Church, I must express my profound disappointment with your decision to vote with Republicans to censure Rep. Al Green (D) of Texas.
While I recognize the importance of decorum and respect as hallmarks within congress, we are living in a time where the urgent issues of racism, dishonesty, corruption, and political manipulation demand that we speak truth boldly and without reservation. We have a fiduciary responsibility to confront President Trump regarding his unjust actions, particularly the attempt to cut Medicaid for those in need.
Scripture reminds us in Isaiah 10:1-2 (CJB), “Woe to those who enact unjust decrees and draft oppressive legislation to deprive the impoverished of justice and rob my people’s poor of their rights.” The Minor Prophet Amos further cautions us in Amos 6:1 (ESV): “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria…” These messages resonate powerfully with our current realities and call us to hold our leaders accountable for their commitments to their constituents during this critical moment in history.
This is not a time for political expediency but for unwavering political courage, and that courage is essential! President Trump and his associates are orchestrating harmful policies that impact real lives, and these decisions will take years to rectify.
You have a long history of standing on the front lines for democracy, yet your recent vote siding with Republicans raises significant concerns. You narrowly secured your seat with overwhelming support from the people in the 9th Congressional District and yet, it is puzzling why you chose to censor the one courageous Democrat who boldly called out the failures of a corrupt administration. Moreover, what about the lack of accountability for Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and others who have disrupted the dignity of State of the Union addresses during the Obama and Biden Administration respectively? Where was your outrage then?
The constituents of your district deserve a clear explanation for your vote. You have a responsibility to articulate your position, especially to the Black community that has steadfastly supported you since 1983. This is a moment that requires accountability and unwavering commitment to the values we hold dear.
Opus Justitiae Pax
“The work of justice [shall be] peace” [Is. 32: 17]
Dr. Brandon A. A. J. Davis,
56th Senior Pastor of Historic Warren AME Church