On Jan. 17, the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), issued a statement commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In that statement, Nelson asserted that the U.S. is still a divided nation racially and economically.

He went on to share examples of present-day challenges and mentioned the continued occupation in Palestine/Israel, saying it is “21st century slavery and should be abolished immediately.” Nelson also said that he hoped the Jewish community in the U.S. would influence the call to join the U.S. government in ending “immoral enslavement.”

In the weeks that followed, Nelson has received numerous calls and emails, both in support of and against the remarks. He recently sat down with OGA Communications to further explain his position.