City religious leaders including Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the Rev. Al Sharpton met Monday to discuss how to strengthen relations between local communities and the cops after the death of Staten Island dad Eric Garner.
The group, convening for the second time since the police-chokehold death of Garner in July, met at St. Patricks Cathedral for breakfast to discuss suggestions they will eventually present to the mayor.
After Garners death, Mayor de Blasio had asked community leaders to be a part of the conversation in restoring good-faith back into minority communities.Garner, who was black, died after being put in the chokehold by a white cop.
We dont want to wait for a crisis to have a well-oiled machine, Dolan said after breakfast. We shouldnt wait for the volcano to erupt.
Were pros when it comes to the virtue of hope. These problems are caused by sin were experts on that, too, he added.
The group agreed to extend their membership to more religious leaders, as well as organize multi-faith prayer events, which will take place on Thanksgiving and Martin Luther King Jr.s birthday. They scheduled their next meeting for November.
There were those who felt we were just dealing with the crisis of the moment. Were committed to dealing with the long run, even if we are not in a crisis, Sharpton said.
Dolan added, You cant get much more grass roots, more street, than in our churches.
Sharpton quipped, Im going to let my people know the cardinal sprung for breakfast.
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Dolan, Sharpton meet to improve police, community relations