GatheredTogether.org » Barack Obama

Second Defendant in Springfield, Massachusetts, Church Arson Pleads Guilty

seniorSOY — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 23:37:24 +0000

WASHINGTON /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Justice Department today announced that Thomas Gleason, 22, of Springfield, Mass., pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with two crimes related to the burning of the Macedonia Church of God in Christ, a predominantly African-American church, in Springfield on the morning after President Barack Obama was elected as the first African-American President of the United States.

The superseding indictment charges that in the early morning hours of Nov. 5, 2008, within hours of Obama being elected President, Gleason and his co-conspirators agreed to burn and succeeded in burning the Macedonia Church of God in Christ’s newly-constructed building where religious services were to be held. The building was nearly completed at the time of the fire, which destroyed the entire structure, leaving only the metal superstructure and a small portion of the front corner intact. Investigators determined the fire to be incendiary in nature and caused by an unknown quantity of gasoline applied to the exterior and interior of the building.

Prior to the Nov. 4, 2008 presidential election, Gleason and his co-conspirators used racial slurs against African-Americans and expressed anger about the possible election of Obama as the first African-American President. On Nov. 4, 2008, Gleason and his co-conspirators agreed to retaliate against the election by burning the new church because the church members, congregation and Bishop were African-American.

Gleason damaged religious property and obstructed the free exercise of religion because of the race, color or ethnic characteristics of any individual associated with that religious property. Gleason conspired to injure, oppress, threaten and intimidate the parishioners of the Macedonia Church of God in Christ in the free exercise or enjoyment of the right to hold and use real property, a right which is secured by the Constitution and laws of the United States.

“The freedom to practice the religion that we choose in a safe environment without being subjected to discrimination or hateful acts is a fundamental right to which every individual is entitled,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Anyone who violates that right will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

“As the second defendant in this disturbing case pleads guilty, I hope it sends a strong message that hate crimes are taken very seriously in Massachusetts,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Carmen Ortiz.

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 1, 2010.

The case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; FBI; Massachusetts State Police; Hampden County District Attorney’s Office and the Springfield Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Paul H. Smyth and Kevin O’Regan and Nicole Lee Ndumele, Trial Attorney in the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice

Pentagon Denies Flyover Because of Celebration’s Christian Content

seniorSOY — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:22:23 +0000

NAMPA, Idaho /Christian Newswire/ — This marks the first time in the 42 year history of the event that a flyover request was denied by the Pentagon.

The event is held ever year to honor the spiritual foundations of our country with a special emphasis on the men and women who serve in the armed forces.

In past years, the “God and Country Rally” has focused on honoring and paying tribute to those veterans who have served our nation in the past and those who are currently on active duty.

At the rally this year, all five branches of the armed services were featured with over 60 new recruits sworn into the military at the event.

After a phone conversation and an e-mail response from the Pentagon, Rally Director Patti Syme says they were denied the request for a flyover this year because of the “Christian” nature of the event.

The e-mail from the Pentagon can be seen here.

The Christian Defense Coalition says this is a “slap in the face” to all those who have proudly served or are currently on active duty in the armed services.

The group is concerned that this new policy may indicate an open hostility toward public expressions of faith by the Obama Administration.

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, states,

“For years, flyovers have been allowed by the Pentagon at the ‘God and Country Rally’ in Nampa Idaho. These flyovers were not to endorse or promote any one religious faith tradition. Rather, they were held to honor and pay tribute to our heroic men and women who have served or are currently serving in our armed forces.

“For the Obama Administration to deny a flyover for the first time, is a slap in the face to all those who proudly serve our country especially when we are at war. These flyovers have been a special part of the ‘God and Country Rally’ for many years.

“Will the new policy of President Obama be that a person has to surrender their faith tradition to honor and pay tribute to our courageous men and women who serve in the military?

“With respect to the economic concerns that the Pentagon mentioned, I would answer this way. If we can pay hundreds thousands of dollars for President Obama to go on a date with his wife to see a Broadway show and have an expensive dinner in New York City, we can certainly find a way to honor our brave men and women who serve in the armed services with a simple flyover.

“The Christian Defense Coalition will diligently work to reverse this unjust policy and determine why this flyover was denied in the first place.”

Brandi Swindell, national Christian activist and Director of Generation Life, based in Idaho, adds,

“For the Pentagon to deny this flyover for the first time in the history of our state is deeply troubling and disturbing.

“During a time of war and especially around the 4th of July we should be doing all within our power as a nation to honor and respect our military.

“It must be stressed that the flyover was not to honor Christianity but to honor our fallen heroes who have proudly given their lives to protect our country and advance the cause of liberty around the world.

“Does this mean in the future that all public rallies must be stripped of any expressions of faith to respect our military? This Administration should be protecting religious expression in the public square not crushing it.

“I hope that President Obama will reverse this unjust policy and next year we will be allowed to give the military the honor they deserve.”

Changing Demographics (part two)

seniorSOY — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:13:20 +0000

Changing demographics (part two)
In a report from associated press; Clinton said that our changing demographics is what led to the election of Barack Obama. I would have to agree with that statement about our changing country. The world around us can see it too, and most laugh at what we have become. The people in other countries certainly see what happening and they see what our President is doing. I wonder why a tremendous amount of the American people can’t. So far Obama has failed in almost every area of Christianity, for some one who claims to be a born again Christian. What I am saying is don’t say you are something that you are not. The changing demographics are not Christian, and unfortunately the Christian population is on the decline here in America and around the world. That is how this once mighty nation could elect a president of his statue. (We the people) do not want truth anymore. There have been a lot of immigrants coming here with Muslim, Hindu and other religious backgrounds. Muslims, of course is the largest part of that population coming to America, and their belief system is based on works and fear. There motive is to have a caliphate world, which would do away with all other religions and cause you and me to either convert to Islam or die. I am reminded however of a story about a missionary who could not go into another country and witness for Christ. As bad as he wanted to, he couldn’t. Something always hindered him one way or another, whether it was finances or health reasons, he could not go. So he prayed to God that he would make a way for him to witness to this people. God answered his prayer in an ill-fated event; he brought the people to him by way of war. This man got his prayer answered in a way he did not expect, but God answered him and he began a ministry to reach out to those people. That is what I try and keep in my mind about all the other religions coming to America, we’ve been praying, God send someone to them, God answered, I’ll bring them to you. The United States has become the largest mission field in the world. Why, because we are a very diverse group of people from all walks of life, from almost every country and every belief. The world around us is changing, but that does not mean we change. In Malachi chapter 3: 6 God stated, (I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed). Remember that the next time someone comes to you and says, we need to compromise God’s word or we need to be tolerant of someone else’s religious beliefs. I thank not, we need to stand!

Changing Demographics (part one)

seniorSOY — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:09:36 +0000

“Changing demographics,” part one:
I was reading an article the other day from the associated press about a speech former President Bill Clinton gave at an American-Arab anti-discrimination Committee. The article was written on 06/14/2009. It said, in his speech (Clinton) to a 1000 people that the United States is no longer a black-white country, nor a country that is dominated by Christians and a powerful Jewish minority. The article stated Clinton as saying, given the growing number of Muslims, Hindus and other religious groups here, Americans should be mindful of the changing demographics which led to the election of Barack Obama as president. Later they claim he said, that by 2050 the U.S. will no longer have a majority of people with European heritage and that in an interdependent world “this is a very positive thing.” Now I want to take a closer look at what he said to this group of American-Arabs. First, he said we are not a black-white country anymore, and that is true because we seem to be letting everyone and his brother into our country, whether they are terrorist or not and giving them tax breaks and financial help so they can lead a productive life. So why not come to America. They apparently take what you and I have been providing the Government in the way of our tax money. When I was born into this country I did not receive Government assistance in any form, isn’t that discrimination. A lot of immigrants come and work here for a while sending monies back home to their families so they can come to the land of the free and the home of the brave. A place where mostly the black and white men and women born here have fought and some have died so we can be free and pay taxes so American and immigrants alike can live peaceably. I have no problem with immigrants coming to America, but give them the same opportunities as the one’s born here have. Don’t give them preferential treatment.

If they really want to be here, maybe we should set a cost to enter this country, we could certainly use the money to help pay off America’s tremendous debt. Maybe every male 18 and up should serve in our Military for two years as a price for coming here. Not to mention the fact, we have to learn a new language when we call customer service if we have a problem with anything. There has to be some kind of change. I know this seems harsh, but this country is falling fast and I am one proud American who doesn’t like it. Changing demographics is not a good thing and it is certainly not something we should be proud of.