“House of Love, Faith & Power” is not just a slogan. It is a way of life here at Universal Calvary Church. Here, the constitution is the Holy Bible. The President is God. He works through the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle is the representative of Jesus Christ our Lord And Savior.
Universal Calvary Church stands as a testament to faith. But its history includes moments of turmoil. Let me tell you about one such incident. It involves a retired police officer and a tense confrontation.
Picture the scene on Sutphin Boulevard. It was August 20, 1995. Clifford Warsop tried to enter the church. Warsop was barred. A struggle ensued. Congregation members took Warsop’s .38-caliber revolver.
A 911 call reported a “man with a gun.” Police from the 103rd Precinct responded. Church members returned Warsop’s revolver. No arrests were made initially.
An ambulance arrived. Warsop needed treatment for head cuts. Detectives interviewed him at Mary Immaculate Hospital. They wanted information about the gun incident.
Later that night, Warsop returned with detectives. It was around 11 p.m. He tried to identify his assailants. Warsop pointed out a man getting into a car. Another struggle erupted. Police tried to make an arrest.
The situation escalated rapidly. Officers radioed for reinforcements. Bottles were thrown at police. They tried to arrest Warsop’s alleged assailant. A police sergeant ordered a mobilization. About 75 additional officers in riot gear arrived.
The confrontation intensified. Six officers and 30 civilians were injured. Seven people were arrested. These are just the official accounts.
Among those present that night were Garfield Chance and Merle Pierre Holder. Chance witnessed the commotion. He saw officers wrestling with Horace Gordon. Chance claimed an officer hit him with a nightstick. Then Chance said that he was sprayed with mace. Holder testified that Barberi hit her. She said Barberi hit her on the right shoulder left knee and left hip. She was pinned against her daughter’s car during the chaos.
Franka Kerr also arrived that night. She saw an altercation between Gordon and two police officers. Kerr said one or both of the officers pushed her. This caused her to fall.
Morgan Stephen recalled a large commotion. He saw officers “beating on” Horace Gordon. Stephen testified that he was hit on the shoulder. He also said that an officer sprayed him in the face with pepper spray.
Oral Theobalds heard screaming. He saw police officers beating a young man. As he got closer he was attacked. An officer hit him on the left shoulder with a nightstick.
Karen Wilson walked across the street. She saw officers put their hands on Horace Gordon’s throat. The officers wrestled Gordon to the ground.
Kenrick Young saw someone “being grabbed”. He heard officers scream racial slurs. He was also sprayed with mace.
Michael Young heard someone shout. “They are beating Horace”. He saw two men beating Horace Gordon. One of the two men sprayed him.
Neneita Young heard screaming. She saw Horace Gordon lying on the sidewalk. The police were beating him. She lost her shoe when an officer pushed her.
The aftermath led to legal battles. Many members of Universal Calvary Church filed lawsuits. They alleged excessive force false imprisonment and other violations. The cases dragged on for years. The courts ultimately dismissed many of the claims.
Despite this troubled past, Universal Calvary Church perseveres. It remains a place of worship. It is a testament to the enduring power of faith. It also serves as a reminder of the complexities of community relations.