"Christ Will Shield My Racism"
September 28, 2007
In response to statements made
yesterday by the Jena 6 prosecutor, DA Reed Walters, the American Humanist
Association expressed its outrage at the blatant use of religion as a cover
for racism. Walters had claimed that "had it not been for the direct
intervention of the Lord Jesus Christ," last week's protests in Jena,
Louisiana, wouldn't have been as peaceful as they were. Instead, according
to Walters, "a disaster would have happened."
In response to Walters' claim, the director of communications for the
American Humanist Association, Fred Edwords, declared today, "When Reed
Walters thanked Jesus instead of thanking the peaceful protesters
themselves, almost all of whom were African Americans, he appears to have
exposed a racist belief that African Americans are by nature violent and
need divine intervention to keep a lid on their behavior."
Walters was applauded by 60 local residents, who CNN described as "white
supporters of the DA," when he credited the prayers of the local "Christian
community" with bringing the claimed intervention.
"Was Walters really saying, 'Christ will shield my racism'?" asked Roy
Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association,
"Because he seemed to be wrapping himself in the cloak of religion while
expressing racist sympathies."
The American Humanist Association has long stood steadfast against all who
would use religion as a free pass to excuse the worst of human sympathies.
"People need to take responsibility for their own motivations and misdeeds,"
concluded Speckhardt. "Treating harmful views as holy won't save them."
