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- Jan 2, 2002
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- 4,731
INJUNCTION REFUSED, JACKSONVILLE OFFICIALS PROCEED WITH
GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED "DAY OF FAITH" PRAYER WARRIOR RALLY
Despite a last-minute effort by American Atheists to obtain an
injunction against the event, government officials and religious
leaders in Jacksonville, Florida held a highly-publicized "Day of
Faith: Arming Our Prayer Warriors" rally yesterday to promote religion
and ostensibly reduce the city's high murder rate.
Over 6,000 people trekked to Veteran's Memorial Arena for what the
local Times-Union newspaper described as "a cross between a high
school pep rally and a church revival."
"Again and again, the audience rose to its feet to applaud and cheer
as government officials and religious leaders preached the need for
community action to fight Jacksonville's homicide rate."
The evening before the prayer fest, though, American Atheists filed
legal papers in US District Court asking for a restraining order and
jury trial over the unconstitutional event. Local resident Mark Butler
had contacted the group to see if court action could be taken against
the city over the planned rally. Attorney Lisa Lovingood represented
the organization and Mr. Butler. On Friday, Lovingood argued the case
before Judge Henry Lee Adams, saying that the involvement of the City
of Jacksonville in the prayer rally had "the ostensible and
predominant purpose of advancing religion over no religion," and
conveyed "official approval to religious citizens over irreligious
citizens."
The City countered, however, and attempted to justify the use of local
money in promoting and facilitating the event. Assistant General
Counsel Tom Beverly told the court that the rally was "not
predominantly religious" because it had a secular function of
encouraging volunteerism. He admitted, "Yes, there are many pastors
involved, but it's not a church rally, it's open to everybody."
In the end, Judge Adams refused the motion for an injunction saying
that it was filed too late, and denied the municipality sufficient
time to prepare its case.
"Prayer Warrior Rally," Not a Civic Event
Despite denials from the city, however, religion was a dominant and
pervasive theme during Saturday's "anti-violence" rally.
The municipal web site conspicuously promoted "A Day of Faith:
Arming our Prayer Warriors," urging citizens to "join Mayor Peyton,
Sheriff Rutherford, the Jacksonville City Council and faith and
community leaders in a rally against violence in our community."
The city made free shuttle transportation available, with one of the
stops being The Potter's House Christian Fellowship church on Normandy
Boulevard. Portions of certain public streets were closed for parking
and traffic flow. Parking at the event was also free.
Flyers and letters from Mayor John Peyton were circulated, all showing
the colorful "Day of Faith: Arming Our Prayer Warriors"
logo. In addition to giving details about the rally, the flyer copy
noted: "Our faith is our greatest strength and our faith community our
greatest asset. We invite members of every worship center and faith
organization to join hands and take back our neighborhood."
Volunteers were solicited to help organize the prayer event. They
were coordinated through the City of Jacksonville Office of Volunteer
Services.
On Thursday, Mayor Peyton met private with televangelist T.J. Jakes
and a dozen other preachers to finalize plans for the prayer rally.
Jakes, once a high profile spokesperson for the Promise Keepers
movement, has emerged in recent years as a staunch advocate for the
use of government money to subsidize church social programs and is a
vocal supporter of President Bush's faith-based initiative.
Jakes presides over the The Potters House megachurch in Dallas, TX,
and is described by many as a "household name" in evangelical circles.
He was reportedly in Jacksonville to promote his faith-based Black
Economic Success Training seminar.
Thursday's meeting between the mayor and the faith-community leaders
reflected a combination of calls for economic reform and religious
conversation. Jakes said that the churches should become active in
projects that created housing and job opportunities, along with
education for young people before they get involved in violent,
criminal activities. Peyton, however, said that the purpose of the
"prayer warrior" event was to "enter in prayer and leave in action."
There were other mixed messages as well leading into the Saturday
prayer rally.
Both Mayor Peyton and Sheriff John Rutherford told reporters that the
rally was a way to "take back our neighborhoods" in the wake of the
rising homicide rate in Jacksonville.
Peyton also made public statements insisting that the Saturday
gathering "is all about inclusion," but then called for changing lives
through prayer.
Ms. Lovingood, though, expressed doubts about the legality of the
event.
"I think that the city is motivated by positive, good purposes," she
told a local television news crew, "but they cannot legally encroach
and put religion into what they are attempting to do." She added that
holding a day of faith rally on city property and using government
resources and tax dollars "is against the law."
The rally turned out to be a public spectacle ridden with religious
chants, imagery and sloganeering.
In a display of magical thinking, Sheriff Rutherford told the excited
crowd that the rally sent a message to criminals "that we ain't taking
it anymore," and hoped that "gun-carrying thugs get the message" that
their behavior was unwelcome in the community.
"Amid hymns and prayer, 10 ministers also participated in the event,"
noted Florida Times-Union reporter Jeff Brumley. They included a
local Imam from the American Muslim Society and a Rabbi.
Even more superstitious than the claims by Jakes and Peyton, Rev.
Trey Wright of Zion Community Church warned the crowd of Satanic
influences in Jacksonville, and shouted, "This is not just a political
problem, this is a spiritual problem ... let the devil know he's not
going to rule over our city!"
Brumley's story added: "Likewise, the Revs. Gary Wiggins of Evangel
Temple Assembly of God, Rudolph McKissick Jr. of Bethel Baptist
Institutional Church, Tony Hansberry of Greater Grant Memorial AME and
Stovall Weems of Celebration Church had the arena standing and
shouting 'amen" with messages of God's power conquering Jacksonville's
problems..."
Mayor Peyton was as blatant as the ministers in promoting religious
faith as a panacea for the municipality's social difficulties.
"We are here because we have faith in the future of our city, we have
faith in our families, we have faith in this government, we have faith
in God," he told the crowd.
For further information:
http://www.atheists.org/fl
(Office of the Florida State Director, American Atheists)
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/elec20.htm
("Weakening the wall: Al Gore grovels for votes with Promise Keeper
T.D. Jakes," 10/25/00)
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/bush9.htm
("Bush huddles with Catholic leaders, plans strategy to push
'faith-based' partnership plan," 1/26/01
**
GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED "DAY OF FAITH" PRAYER WARRIOR RALLY
Despite a last-minute effort by American Atheists to obtain an
injunction against the event, government officials and religious
leaders in Jacksonville, Florida held a highly-publicized "Day of
Faith: Arming Our Prayer Warriors" rally yesterday to promote religion
and ostensibly reduce the city's high murder rate.
Over 6,000 people trekked to Veteran's Memorial Arena for what the
local Times-Union newspaper described as "a cross between a high
school pep rally and a church revival."
"Again and again, the audience rose to its feet to applaud and cheer
as government officials and religious leaders preached the need for
community action to fight Jacksonville's homicide rate."
The evening before the prayer fest, though, American Atheists filed
legal papers in US District Court asking for a restraining order and
jury trial over the unconstitutional event. Local resident Mark Butler
had contacted the group to see if court action could be taken against
the city over the planned rally. Attorney Lisa Lovingood represented
the organization and Mr. Butler. On Friday, Lovingood argued the case
before Judge Henry Lee Adams, saying that the involvement of the City
of Jacksonville in the prayer rally had "the ostensible and
predominant purpose of advancing religion over no religion," and
conveyed "official approval to religious citizens over irreligious
citizens."
The City countered, however, and attempted to justify the use of local
money in promoting and facilitating the event. Assistant General
Counsel Tom Beverly told the court that the rally was "not
predominantly religious" because it had a secular function of
encouraging volunteerism. He admitted, "Yes, there are many pastors
involved, but it's not a church rally, it's open to everybody."
In the end, Judge Adams refused the motion for an injunction saying
that it was filed too late, and denied the municipality sufficient
time to prepare its case.
"Prayer Warrior Rally," Not a Civic Event
Despite denials from the city, however, religion was a dominant and
pervasive theme during Saturday's "anti-violence" rally.
The municipal web site conspicuously promoted "A Day of Faith:
Arming our Prayer Warriors," urging citizens to "join Mayor Peyton,
Sheriff Rutherford, the Jacksonville City Council and faith and
community leaders in a rally against violence in our community."
The city made free shuttle transportation available, with one of the
stops being The Potter's House Christian Fellowship church on Normandy
Boulevard. Portions of certain public streets were closed for parking
and traffic flow. Parking at the event was also free.
Flyers and letters from Mayor John Peyton were circulated, all showing
the colorful "Day of Faith: Arming Our Prayer Warriors"
logo. In addition to giving details about the rally, the flyer copy
noted: "Our faith is our greatest strength and our faith community our
greatest asset. We invite members of every worship center and faith
organization to join hands and take back our neighborhood."
Volunteers were solicited to help organize the prayer event. They
were coordinated through the City of Jacksonville Office of Volunteer
Services.
On Thursday, Mayor Peyton met private with televangelist T.J. Jakes
and a dozen other preachers to finalize plans for the prayer rally.
Jakes, once a high profile spokesperson for the Promise Keepers
movement, has emerged in recent years as a staunch advocate for the
use of government money to subsidize church social programs and is a
vocal supporter of President Bush's faith-based initiative.
Jakes presides over the The Potters House megachurch in Dallas, TX,
and is described by many as a "household name" in evangelical circles.
He was reportedly in Jacksonville to promote his faith-based Black
Economic Success Training seminar.
Thursday's meeting between the mayor and the faith-community leaders
reflected a combination of calls for economic reform and religious
conversation. Jakes said that the churches should become active in
projects that created housing and job opportunities, along with
education for young people before they get involved in violent,
criminal activities. Peyton, however, said that the purpose of the
"prayer warrior" event was to "enter in prayer and leave in action."
There were other mixed messages as well leading into the Saturday
prayer rally.
Both Mayor Peyton and Sheriff John Rutherford told reporters that the
rally was a way to "take back our neighborhoods" in the wake of the
rising homicide rate in Jacksonville.
Peyton also made public statements insisting that the Saturday
gathering "is all about inclusion," but then called for changing lives
through prayer.
Ms. Lovingood, though, expressed doubts about the legality of the
event.
"I think that the city is motivated by positive, good purposes," she
told a local television news crew, "but they cannot legally encroach
and put religion into what they are attempting to do." She added that
holding a day of faith rally on city property and using government
resources and tax dollars "is against the law."
The rally turned out to be a public spectacle ridden with religious
chants, imagery and sloganeering.
In a display of magical thinking, Sheriff Rutherford told the excited
crowd that the rally sent a message to criminals "that we ain't taking
it anymore," and hoped that "gun-carrying thugs get the message" that
their behavior was unwelcome in the community.
"Amid hymns and prayer, 10 ministers also participated in the event,"
noted Florida Times-Union reporter Jeff Brumley. They included a
local Imam from the American Muslim Society and a Rabbi.
Even more superstitious than the claims by Jakes and Peyton, Rev.
Trey Wright of Zion Community Church warned the crowd of Satanic
influences in Jacksonville, and shouted, "This is not just a political
problem, this is a spiritual problem ... let the devil know he's not
going to rule over our city!"
Brumley's story added: "Likewise, the Revs. Gary Wiggins of Evangel
Temple Assembly of God, Rudolph McKissick Jr. of Bethel Baptist
Institutional Church, Tony Hansberry of Greater Grant Memorial AME and
Stovall Weems of Celebration Church had the arena standing and
shouting 'amen" with messages of God's power conquering Jacksonville's
problems..."
Mayor Peyton was as blatant as the ministers in promoting religious
faith as a panacea for the municipality's social difficulties.
"We are here because we have faith in the future of our city, we have
faith in our families, we have faith in this government, we have faith
in God," he told the crowd.
For further information:
http://www.atheists.org/fl
(Office of the Florida State Director, American Atheists)
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/elec20.htm
("Weakening the wall: Al Gore grovels for votes with Promise Keeper
T.D. Jakes," 10/25/00)
http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/bush9.htm
("Bush huddles with Catholic leaders, plans strategy to push
'faith-based' partnership plan," 1/26/01
**
