New York City remembers Mandela in church celebration

The bells of New York City's Riverside Church tolled for former South African president Nelson Mandela Wednesday night as South Africans and New Yorkers, including famous civil rights leaders, gathered to celebrate the life of the anti-apartheid icon. 

 

More than 2,000 people took part in the memorial service held at the neo-Gothic cathedral famous for hosting Mandela during his first visit to New York, years after the congregation had decided to support his fight against racial segregation in South Africa.

 

Under the majestic pillars of the tall, candle-lit church building, a circle of women drummers dressed in white and gold costumes kicked off the ceremony. 

 

They were followed by singing, dancers in traditional African clothes, scripture readings by several religious leaders, and speeches from civil rights advocates who knew Mandela. 

 

Former New York City mayor David Dinkins, the first and to-date only African American to hold the position, recalled Mandela's first visit to New York in 1990, shortly after his release from prison, during which he stayed at Dinkins' residence.

 

"He was a constant man whose heart felt no bitterness and whose mind sought no revenge," Dinkins said, holding back tears. "He had a total absence of bitterness." 

 

After a choir performance drawing a standing ovation from the audience, the Reverend Al Sharpton, a US civil rights activist, called for action to finish Mandela's work instead of merely dwelling on his memory reminding people of the price he paid for freedom. 

 

"He spent 27 years in jail, isolated, castigated, with no guarantee that he would ever see daylight again from the other side of the bars ... It was no career move for him when he went to Robben Island," Sharpton said referring to the prison where Mandela was held. 

 

"Don't celebrate Mandela tonight if you're not going to fight for the principles that he stood for," Sharpton said. 

 

The Riverside Church hosted Mandela in 1990 and 2005. 

 

The service on Wednesday recreated some of the atmosphere of the first visit, when congregants danced down the isles as Mandela walked to the altar drawing applause and cheers.

 

-Sapa-dpa