Kamala Harris’ close relationship with her longtime pastor, Amos Brown, is raising eyebrows after his controversial past comes to light. Known for his radical views, Brown made headlines with his inflammatory remarks about America just days after the 9/11 attacks, questioning the country’s role in the tragedy and criticizing its policies. His anti-American rhetoric and anti-Israel sentiments have sparked backlash even among San Francisco Democrats, including Nancy Pelosi. Despite his past controversies, Harris has maintained a strong connection with Brown, praising him as a guiding influence in her life. This connection has drawn comparisons to Barack Obama’s association with his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright.
One of the first persons Vice President Kamala Harris called when President Joe Biden announced his resignation on Sunday and she assumed the Democratic nomination was her longtime pastor, Amos Brown.
In an interview with Sojourners, Brown said, “She said to me, ‘Pastor, I called because I want you to pray for me … this country … and the race I am intending to run for president.'”
Harris has been close to Brown, the veteran pastor of Third Baptist Church in San Francisco, for almost 25 years, and the two have stayed in touch during her vice presidency. A photo of the two was uploaded to the vice president’s Instagram account by Harris in July 2023, with the caption, “an inspiration to me always.”
Less well known, though, is Brown’s past of making extreme, anti-American statements that have provoked criticism from Democrats in San Francisco, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Six days after al Qaeda killed close to 3,000 Americans at a memorial service for 9/11 victims, Brown took the opportunity to criticize the country, making comments that the San Francisco Chronicle reported “set a lot of people’s teeth on edge” and “left politicians stunned.”
“America, is there anything you did to set up this climate?” Brown asked the audience. “Ohhhh—America, what did you do?”
“America, what did you do two weeks ago when I stood at the world conference on racism, when you wouldn’t show up?” Brown went on, to mention his involvement in the UN World Conference Against Racism, which Israel and the US boycotted due to anti-Semitic concerns.
The Chronicle noted that former California governor Gray Davis (D) and late California senator Dianne Feinstein (D) fled during Brown’s speech, which shocked the largely leftist audience.
During her time on the dais, Pelosi retaliated at Brown. “With all due respect to some of the sentiments that were earlier expressed—some of which I agree with—make no mistake … the act of terrorism on Sept. 11 put those people outside the order of civilized behavior, and we will not take responsibility for that,” she said at the time.
Pelosi expressed regret to Mark Bingham’s spouse, a 9/11 victim who is thought to have fought alongside other passengers on Flight 93 to assist derail the aircraft into a Pennsylvania field.
“This was supposed to be a memorial service,” former senator Barbara Boxer was informed by Bingham’s six-year companion, Paul Holm, during the ceremony.
Following Brown’s comments, Pelosi and her staff “broke into tears,” according to Holm, who described Brown’s statement as “one of the most shocking things from a very dark period.”
“It was un-American for Amos Brown and his allies to make it worse,” Holm stated to the Washington Free Beacon.
It’s unclear whether Harris knew of Brown’s comments or when she became a member of his church. Before her 2003 district attorney race, Harris was employed by San Francisco city attorney Louise Renne at the time. However, his words created a commotion in San Francisco, with media headlines like “Pelosi lays into minister for remarks at service” appearing. ‘Over the top’ tirade by Amos Brown during the homage.”
Anti-Semitism has also crept into Brown’s extreme politics. He is most recognized for linking Zionism and racism while serving as a delegate to the 2001 United Nations World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa. Due to that decision, the US and Israel left the conference, expressing shock that what was supposed to be a gathering to fight bigotry had instead become a hate fest.
A gathering of non-governmental organizations in Tehran to prepare for the Durban conference has been identified by some academics as the catalyst for the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaign. The conference adopted a declaration urging “a policy of complete and total isolation of Israel as an apartheid state.”
Since Harris joined Brown’s group, his radicalism has also been made public. According to the New York Times, he is a member of the California Reparations Task Force and has advocated for “billionaires in San Francisco” to provide monetary payments to the descendants of slaves. At his church in 2022, the pastor organized a “Solidarity for Reparations” rally. In 2021, he told the San Francisco Chronicle that “America is a racist country.”
The relationship between former President Barack Obama and his longtime pastor, Jeremiah Wright, is similar to that of Harris and Brown.
Obama’s anti-American lectures drew heavy criticism during his 2008 presidential campaign, and the Obamas eventually departed Wright’s Trinity United Church, which they had attended for twenty years.
Brown’s prominent member has not been hostile due to his words. He told Religion News Service this week that Harris is still a “dues-paying member” of his church and that he had seen Harris at the White House at least twice.
“For two decades now, at least, I have turned to you,” Harris said of Brown during her speech to the National Baptist Convention 2022. “I have turned to him. And I will say that your wisdom has really guided me and grounded me during some of the most difficult times.”
Recently, GreatGameInternational reported how Sen. Kamala Harris, portrayed as a moderate choice for vice president, has a surprising family connection to radical politics.
