Major Stories – Page 26 – Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

Washington DC: 2000 Coptic Christians Rally Outside White House on January 21

On January 21, 2010 on a winter afternoon, over 2000 Coptic Christians rallied, chanted, sang, prayed, and marched outside the White House to get the attention of U.S. President Barack Obama and the American public on the continuing human rights violations of the Copts in Egypt. They came from Maryland, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, and other parts of America to protest the recent terrorist attack on Copts in Egypt on January 6 (Coptic Christmas Eve), with terrorists killing Copts as they left their religious services in Nag Hammadi (near Luxor). The latest attacks were part of a continuing history of oppression, rape, murder, and forced conversion from Christianity to Islam of the Coptic people and women in Egypt.

January 21, 2010 - Over 1500 rally in front of the White House in the aftermath of the Coptic Christmas eve killings of Copts in Egypt — January 21, 2010 - Over 2000 rally in front of the White House in the aftermath of the Coptic Christmas eve killings of Copts in Egypt

Protesters Line Up Along Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House — Protesters Joining the Copts White House Rally

The crowd arrived in different locations from buses, some of which were organized at St. Mark Coptic Church (11911 Braddock RD Fairfax, VA 22030) and St. Mary Coptic Church (8340 Woodward St. Savage, MD 20763). Coptic organizers included Halim Meawad and Magdi Khalil.

With the recent attacks on Copts in November 2009 (in Farshoot and Abou Shousha) and the January 2010 terrorist attack on Copts outside their Mar Yohana church in Nag Hammadi, the Coptic people continue to face deadly persecution in Egypt. Individuals passed out fliers at the White House rally defying President Mubarak’s claims that “there is no persecution for Copts in Egypt;” the fliers addressed the oppression of Coptic Christians, attacks on churches, the forced “Islamization” and abduction of Coptic girls, and official restrictions on creation of new Christian churches.

One attendee stated that the crowd of Copt supporters was estimated at 2500 people. It was a large enough crowd that it filled the Pennsylvania Avenue area in front of the White House. We attempted to estimate the moving crowd (which frequently was marching around the area) and concluded it was clearly over 2000 people. New members to protest continue to join the rally as it was in progress. Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) was represented among the supporters at the Copts’ White House rally.

More People Kept Coming to the Copt Rally

Protesters held signs, crosses, and American flags. Entire families with their children came to spend the day.

Signs included messages such as “Stop the Killing of Innocent Christians Now,” “Save Christians in Egypt,” signs imploring President Obama to recognize their plight, and some signs merely asked the painful question “Why?” regarding the hate-based attacks and oppression on the Copts’ human rights and lives.

Copts Called for "Stop the Killing of Innocent Christians Now"

In reference to the January 6 (Coptic Christmas Eve) terrorist attack, one protester’s sign read “Bloodshed is not what I wanted for Christmas.”

Others held large banners describing the scope of the ongoing human rights violations against the Copts: 161 attacks on Christians and churches, 4500 stores, houses, and churches burned, and 1500 tortured.

Copts Describe Scope of Human Rights Crisis in front of the White House (January 21, 2010)

The protesters called for U.S. President Barack Obama to take action, and chanted “Obama, Obama, We Need Action!”

They also chanted to stop the killing of Christians in Egypt, that “Christian Blood is Not Cheap,” and implored the “U.S. [to] Wake Up!”

Protesters lined up and down the Pennsylvania Avenue area in front of the White House marched back and forth.

Copts Lining Up on Pennsylvania Avenue in Front of the White House

Copts Marching in front of the White House

During the protest at the White House, Coptic supporters sang “Lord Have Mercy,” and prayed. They protested for freedom of worship for the Coptic Christians in Egypt.

Copts Join Together for Moment of Prayer in front of White House

As the Copts braved the winter day to show their support for their fellow Copts in Egypt, they showed that they would defy the forces of oppression, and that they will not allow the suffering of the Copts to be forgotten by the U.S. government or by the American people. Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) stands by the Copts’ struggle for their universal human rights.

Copts Fear No Evil as They Call for Their Universal Human Rights

Video of Rally from Free Copts Website

Other Protest Scenes

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Previous R.E.A.L. Postings on Copts

Egypt: US Congress Writes to Egyptian President Mubarak About Coptic Killings

Egypt: Naga Hammadi Copts in mourning

Australia: Thousands Gather in Sydney to Protest Against Copts Persecution

NYC: Thousands of Copts rally in front of the UN to protest the killing of Christians in Egypt

Egypt: HRW calls for release of pro-Coptic groups

Egypt: US State Dept: US concerned at Coptic Christian arrests in Egypt

Egypt: Voice of the Copts Advises Against Egypt Travel

Egypt security court to try suspects in Copt killings

Egypt — AINA reports: “Over 100 Coptic Christian Teenagers Arrested in Egypt”

Egypt Coptic Christians Murdered in Terrorist Attack Outside Church

Egypt — BBC Report: “Egypt’s Coptic Christians battle for ID cards”

Egypt: Bloomberg News Reports on Bias, Oppression of Christian Copts — OIC “too busy” to respond to Bloomberg News questions

American Copts Protest in NYC and LA on Anti-Christian Sectarian Violence in Egypt

Human Rights Day — Voice of the Copts Address and Video

DC Examiner: Protection of religious minorities is major theme of 2009 Human Rights Day News Conference

Epoch Times: “International Human Rights Day — Comments Made At National Press Club”

Egypt: Human Rights Activists Call for Banning Extremist Television Channels

Egypt: Voice of the Copts Open Letter to Coptic Pope

Egypt: Outrage over Swiss vote on minarets, while Egypt oppresses Coptic Christians

Egypt: “Muslim Mob” of 3,000 — Mob Attacks Christian Businesses, Individuals — Rioting Spreads in Upper Egypt

ICC Report: “Religious Freedom Not a US Priority toward Allies Egypt and Saudi Arabia”

Egypt Hosts OIC Conference on “Children’s Rights”

Egypt: 15 Year Old Egyptian Convert to Christianity Sends Plea to Obama — Dina el-Gowhary

Egypt: “The Disappearance, Forced Conversions, and Forced Marriages of Coptic Christian Women in Egypt”

Egyptian Christian Monk Father Aghabeos El-Moharkee Reports Death Threats

Egypt: Christian Coptic Blogger in Egypt Threatens Hunger Strike

Egyptian Security Arrests Several Christians for Praying At Home

Egyptian Christians Fear More Muslim Violence

Egypt: Coptic Blogger in Egypt Pressured to Convert in Prison

Egypt arrests 30 in Muslim-Copt clashes – Muslim residents hurl stones at church construction workers

Egypt: “Coptic Family Forced to Surrender Woman Rescued in Egypt”

Egypt: Christian Arrested for Distributing Tracts in Egypt

“Egyptian Police Arrest Christian Father for Attempting to Free Kidnapped Daughter”

Egypt: Mourners Protest Islamic Attacks on Copts in Egypt

Egyptian Christian’s murder sparks sectarian tension

Egypt: Thousands of Christians Gather to Pray for Equality in Egypt

Egyptian Copts abroad call for national strike in Egypt — on September 11

Voice of Copts report: “Egyptian Regime protecting drug dealers and abusers”

Egyptian Coptic Priest Banned From Village, Under Death Threat — Rev. Estefanos Shehata

“Egypt — Two Copts Imprisoned after Reporting Attack”

Egypt: video links on online videos regarding persecution of Christian Copts in Egypt

Egypt: Report on Christian Copt Churches Attacked

DC: Egyptian Coptic Christians Protest for Human Rights, Equality, as President Obama Meets Mubarak

Coalition of Coptic Organizations Press Release on Need for Peace for Coptic Christians of Egypt

DC: Egyptian Copt Christian Group Holds Press Conference

DC: August 18 White House Protest by Coptic Organizations

Egypt — AINA Report: “Abduction and Forced Islamization of Christian Coptic Girls Continues in Egypt”

Egypt: Report on Increasing Extremist Intolerance to Women, Christians

Egypt: Two Christians Coptic Girls Abducted for “forced Islamization”

Egyptian Christian Father Demands Justice for His Murdered Son

Egypt: Report Christians Attacked, Building Torched for Seeking to Worship

“Egyptian Security Refuses to Return Abducted Christian Coptic Girl”

Egypt’s Christians face fresh attacks and legal battles

Egypt: “Family of Abducted Christian Coptic Teenager Assaulted By Muslim Mob”

Egypt — Convert Woman Arrested for Marrying Christian

NYC: Thousands of Copts rally in front of the UN to protest the killing of Christians in Egypt

Communist Vietnam jails democracy activists

Communist Vietnam jails democracy activists for subversion – sentences from 5 to 16 years in prison
— Le Cong Dinh sentenced to 5 years in prison
— Nguyen Tien Trung sentenced to 7 years in prison
— Tran Huynh Duy Thuc sentenced to 16 years in prison
— Le Thang Long sentenced to 5 years in prison

Vietnamese Democracy Advocate Le Cong Dinh (Photo: BBC)

Chicago: Attorney K. Reilly Smith Seeks to Create White Nationalist “Clubs” in America

“White nationalist” “hate group” American Renaissance is seeking to expand its membership throughout the United States, with a plan to create local “clubs,” “for white people like me,” according to American Renaissance contributor and “attorney” K. Reilly Smith.

In the February 2010 issue of American Renaissance’s (AR) newsletter, Smith advises “white nationalists” on “How to Build Your Own AR Club.” Smith tells how he and other supporters decided at a previous AR biannual conference to meet and create their own “club.”

Smith created a group called the “Chicagoland Friends of AR,” and seeks to advise supporters of the “white nationalist” AR group how to create similar local groups. Smith’s “Chicagoland Friends of AR” promotes the “white nationalist” American Renaissance, VDARE, and other groups including one that the Chicago AR “club” describes as “A very useful forum for those who wish to preserve the traditional American (read: white) way of life.” Smith uses the “club” to help solicit tax-deductible donations for the “white nationalist” American Renaissance group.

In his February 2010 AR newsletter, Smith also advises supporters of the “white nationalist” AR group “how the AR staff can discretely assist in bringing local subscribers in contact.”

Smith has previously had his own blog, which he used to promote Sarah Palin. But from American Renaissance Smith’s perspective, the only value of Sarah Palin’s candidacy was “an implicit appeal to whiteness.”

We support our unqualified, universal human rights for all. We urge white supremacist and “white nationalist” supporters to drop the burden of the hate of supremacism from their hearts, and to rejoin the family of humanity in support of our universal human rights. Choose love, not hate.

More on American Renaissance

Virginia: “White Nationalist” Hate Group to Meet in Dulles Area – February 19 through 21

Additional Resources:

— R.E.A.L. Postings on Racial Supremacism

— R.E.A.L. August 28, 2009 – “We Have a Responsibility to Equality and Liberty”
— at the Robert E. Lee Memorial — Text, Video

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

We Have A Responsibility

We Have A Responsibility
August 28, 2009
Robert E. Lee Memorial, Arlington, Virginia
(Video Link)

We are here today at the Robert E. Lee Memorial to remember a historic day, August 28, 1963. On that historic day, 46 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and thousands of black Americans gathered together down the hill at the Lincoln Memorial calling for the equal rights and liberty that were guaranteed to them in our founding Declaration of Independence that defines who and what we are as a nation.

While Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said on August 28, 1963 – “I Have A Dream,” on this August 28 – we must say “We Have A Responsibility”… to ensure equality, liberty, universal human rights, and a commitment of love to one another. We have a responsibility to rebuild our society with a commitment to making the human rights of equality and liberty our first priority, never our last.

We have a responsibility to allow our nation to heal from the divisions that we once had, and put an end to the unhealthy practices of those who seek to reopen old wounds that should have healed decades ago. We have a responsibility to challenge those who seek to parade about and wax nostalgic over our past differences and our hate towards one another. We must heal as one nation, undivided, and indivisible – with common bonds of human rights and human dignity. The pride we must seek is in our future together in shared equality and liberty.

We are not North and South, free states and slave states, abolitionists and slave masters, Union and Confederacy – that war has been over since August 20, 1866. We are only one nation, one people, one flag, and one United States of America. While our history of the past is important, what truly matters is the future that we will make together.

We have a responsibility to our children and to our children’s children – to offer them something new to be nostalgic about – not over our past differences – but about how we were willing to grow and mature as a people and nation, so that we could release our past differences, and promote symbols of unity, of equality, and of liberty together.

We have a responsibility to challenge those who would use symbols of division to continue to spread hate and to challenge our shared values of equality and liberty. Reverend Timothy James of the Disciples of Christ recently stated that “for African Americans the confederate flag is a system of terror, oppression, separation, and racism.” We shouldn’t need to be reminded of this. We have seen the use of the Confederate symbol of division used over and over again in our nation. We have seen the Confederate symbol of division used by the Ku Klux Klan. We have seen the Confederate symbol of division used by white supremacist organizations. Most recently, we have seen the Confederate symbol of division in the tragic terrorist attack in June on the Holocaust Memorial Museum. In Virginia and throughout our nation today, there are over 90 Neo-Confederate hate groups that use that symbol of our past divisions to spread hate and to attack our shared values of equality and liberty.

We have a responsibility to reach out for our future together. We have a responsibility to urge those who cling to our divisions of the past to heal and join us as a united and free people, with equality, liberty, and justice for all.

We have a responsibility to make such unity on equality and liberty a priority in our lives and in our children’s lives.

We have seen the need for such a renewed priority to challenge the racial hate that continues to be unashamedly promoted in public platforms in Virginia.

We have seen the need for such a renewed priority for equality to challenge the spreading of racial hate to children here in Virginia.

We have seen the need for a renewed priority of building our common bonds to challenge the growth of groups that promote the values of the Confederacy here in Virginia today.

Our children deserve better than this. Our nation must be responsible for better than this.

We need to decide – right now – that we will not let the disease of our past divisions and of racial hate to spread to another generation.

We need to decide – this day – that will once and for all bring an end to this disease and to this war among ourselves, and embrace the peace, the harmony, the justice, and the equality – that must be the legacy that we hand down to the next generation.

Forty-six years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood down the hill and spoke of his dream. Now it is time for us to make that dream our responsibility and our legacy as a nation.

To do so, we need a new commitment to symbols that will unite, rather than divide us. We need a new symbol of human rights that all those who come to our nation’s capital will see up on the hill when they stand where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood forty-six years ago today. We need a symbol that does more than remind us of our past, but points to our future together.

So we propose, on this historic day, that right here where are standing now at the Robert E. Lee Memorial – we create a new monument.

We propose that we create a new monument not to any man or to any woman – but a monument to every man and every woman. We propose that we create a new monument that doesn’t recognize just one race or ethnicity, but a monument to every race and every ethnicity. We propose the creation of a new monument not to any human being, but a monument to all human beings. We propose the creation of a new monument that truly represents the very idea of America itself – a commitment to equality, liberty, and universal human rights for all people.

We have a responsibility.

We have a responsibility to all those who need hope and inspiration.

We have a responsibility to all those who seek justice.

We have a responsibility to set an example for our children, their children, and the world.

We have a responsibility to make certain that all those who come to our nation’s capital never fail to understand the idea of America that is greater than all of our leaders and history combined.

We have a responsibility and a historic opportunity to challenge our government to create a new monument on this hill overlooking Washington DC – so that all those who visit can look up towards the sky and say – THAT is what America is really about – our universal human rights of equality and liberty.

We have a responsibility to Equality And Liberty.

Jeffrey Imm at Robert E. Lee Memorial - August 28, 2009

Shen Yun: Performing for Human Rights and Freedom in China

The Shen Yun Performing Arts group will be making a human rights statement through dance, music, and art at the Washington DC Kennedy Center as part of its continuing 2010 world tour throughout the United States, Canada, UK, Europe, and the world.

The upcoming Washington DC performance from January 19 through 24 will provide a show which combines such dance (traditional Chinese dance, ethnic and folk dance, story-based dance), music (a live orchestra and solo musician singers), and art of incredible costumes and backdrops for hours of spellbinding entertainment. The Shen Yun Performing Arts group has been entertaining audiences around the United States, Canada, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The Shen Yun Performing Arts show’s focus is on entertaining its audience and giving many their first exposure to such traditional and ethnic dance and music from China.

Video of Shen Yun Performing Arts Audience Reactions

新唐人電視台 http://www.ntdtv.com

While the majority of the Shen Yun show focuses on Chinese cultural and ethnic stories, music, and dance, other more contemporary story-based performances, included as part of the Shen Yun performance, also have inspirational messages on the importance of our shared universal human rights and human dignity. As one individual told me, “this is how they express themselves on human rights – through their music and through their dance.”

The totalitarian oppression of 1.3 billion by the Communist Chinese government is hardly something any human being could ignore in any legitimate portrayal of Chinese life and culture. Portraying stories about life in Communist China, the Shen Yun Performing Arts show includes inspirational stories of how Chinese people are oppressed but find the strength to have courage to be true to themselves and their beliefs.

They include performances praising the Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) group’s goals of “truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.” The Falun Dafa have been oppressed, imprisoned, and tortured in Communist China for their beliefs. While such stories were told in dance, the message was very clear, as dancers with jackets appliqued with the Communist hammer and sickle emblem (recognized universally as representing Communism) attacked dancers representing Chinese families and those who sought freedom of expression and belief. One dance tells the story of a family divided, beaten, and a mother killed for her beliefs by Communist thugs, but whose family’s beliefs are ultimately rewarded in the afterlife. Another story tells of an activist who is beaten by Communist thugs for displaying the sign “Falun Dafa is good,” but who remains courageous. These stories mirror the real life oppression of the Chinese people in Communist China today, a story that the world must hear, and a story that the world must never forget.

While Chinese people with a wide variety of backgrounds, religions, and beliefs suffer in over 1,000 Laogai forced labor concentration camps today (holding 6.8 million), with continuing forced, coerced abortion and abandonment of its children, mistreatment of human beings, and with the oppression of freedoms for Chinese people of all beliefs, any legitimate Chinese performance on human life in China today must not fail to mention human rights.

Having seen this performance ourselves, R.E.A.L. is pleased to commend the Shen Yun Performing Arts on their artistry, talent, and their unceasing courage to honestly portray Chinese culture, Chinese life, Chinese hopes, and Chinese challenges to the world to see. We urge others to see the Shen Yun Performing Arts show for themselves, with upcoming shows in 2010 in many cities in the United States. The Shen Yun Performing Arts also plans 2010 performances in Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, Ireland, Denmark, Holland, Norway, Czech Republic, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand.

Banner of Shen Yun Performing Arts 2010 World Tour

Some arts reviewers have been critical of Shen Yun’s inclusion of such story-based dances and music, which are the vast minority of their three hour show on Chinese cultural dance and music. One arts reviewer has been critical that contemporary Chinese songs were “peppered with words like ‘oppression’ and ‘injustice.'” I ask such critics, would they have also been critical of a Jewish performing arts group in the 1930s that included stories about the oppression of Jews under Hitler? When did free people start dismissing the performing arts when they point out oppression and injustice?

Such criticism by some of the limited and graceful inclusion of human rights topics in the Shen Yun performances is appalling. What type of artistic expression demands that we can talk about oppression and injustice against all people in every form of entertainment, unless it happens to about oppression and injustice towards the 1.3 billion people in Communist China, one fifth of the world’s population?

One can only imagine if arts reviewers had criticized more specific and more directed human rights messages in entertainment such as Charlie Chaplin’s “The Great Dictator,” “Schindler’s List,” the music of the American civil rights movement,” “A Raisin in the Sun,” and “To Kill A Mockingbird,” among many examples In fact, history has shown that human rights issues continue to find their way into every form of media – theater, movies, music, and television. The Shen Yun Performing Arts cultural dance and music performance demonstrates that there are no national boundaries to this growing trend of representing human rights in entertainment as part of human expression.

In every form of human expression, from dance to YouTube videos, from music to poems, from books to blogs, from Twitters to protests in the streets, the march for human freedom and human rights presses on.

The choice is not whether love, human rights, and human freedom will ultimately win over hate, supremacism, and totalitarianism. The only real choice is the one we will make as to what we will be doing when the great wave of human rights movements are sweeping the world.

As those who are oppressed sing with hope and fearlessness for their beliefs, will we listen?

The Shen Yun Performing Arts group is counting on your conscience to hear their message.

May 30, 2009 Candlelight Vigil for Tiananmen Square Martyrs - DC's Washington Monument

Washington DC: The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts - where Shen Yun performance will be shown in Washington DC in January 2010

The Shen Yun web page for the upcoming Washington DC performance, also urges “For all press, advertising, sponsorship, and ticketing inquiries related to these performances, please call 202-449-9480, or email dc_tickets@ntdtv.com”

Human Rights Activists Celebrate a Night of Chinese Culture of Freedom

On January 2, 2010, R.E.A.L. supporters and other human rights activists from the Voice of the Copts, Pakistan Christian Congress, and Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) attended the Shen Yun Performing Arts show in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Epoch Times reported on this and on our comments at Philadelphia’s Academy of Music.

I accompanied Falun Gong’s Lisa Tao and others from the Washington DC area to the Shen Yun performance in Philadelphia. At R.E.A.L.’s December 10, 2009 press conference at the National Press Club on Human Rights Day, Lisa Tao and Jin Pang told of the torture of their families in Communist China because of their beliefs. Lisa told of her father was “tortured to death” by the Communist Chinese government, and of her own torture. Lisa told the press and the audience on December 10 how “I was also frequently beaten, and many times I was close to being beaten to death.” Jin Pang told of the imprisonment and torture of her mother and her aunt. Her mother and aunt were part of 10,000 Falun Gong supporters arrested during the Beijing Olympics. During the DC press conference, Lisa told of estimates that the Communist government has killed 80 million people, and she told of the countless others tortured, imprisoned, and abused by the Chinese Communist government.

Lisa Tao Speaks at National Press Club on the Human Rights Abuses by Communist China Against Falun Gong (Falun Dafa)

But like during our protest of the 60th anniversary of the Communist Chinese government at the PRC embassy on September 30 (October 1 Beijing time), Lisa does not tire or get discouraged. She glows from the power of hope, love, and freedom that her beliefs have taught her. It is something that the Communists could never take away from her. She found extraordinary strength in her faith and in her belief in human freedom.

Lisa Tao of Falun Dafa (Falun Gong) Protests at PRC Embassy in Washington DC on a Rainy Day

On our trip together to see the Shen Yun performance in Philadelphia on a bitterly cold January night, she does not notice the chill, as we stopped together to get a fish sandwich at a nearby McDonalds. (Meantime, I am bundled with layers of clothing and a heavy sweater.)

Quietly, just like Lisa Tao regularly protests at the PRC embassy without publicity or the press, Lisa Tao is also waging a daily battle for human freedom in Communist China. That night Lisa shared with me her efforts that day alone in helping Chinese people to find the courage to stand up and defy the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). From the United States, Lisa calls people in Communist China on the telephone and tells them about Falun Dafa and also encourages them to stand up against the CCP. She is part of a “Quit CCP” movement of Chinese people who publicly renounce their support for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

That day alone, Lisa Tao convinced 10 new people to publicly Quit the CCP. Her efforts won’t be recorded in any local news media. But she has the quiet confidence and satisfaction of someone who is living the courage of her convictions.

The Quit CCP movement states that over 66 million Chinese have left the CCP since December 2004. Public individual statements are posted on the Quit CCP campaign web site. Every day, Lisa Tao and freedom fighters around the world seek to extend a hand to other Chinese people who are lifting themselves up out of oppression.

The march for freedom – for human beings around the world – is just getting started. But every day, there are new members joining that march and taking up the cause.

We share their commitment to universal human rights, and to being Responsible for Equality And Liberty.

Love Wins.

Tennessee: White Supremacist Terrorist Pleads Guilty — Mass Murder Terror Plot – Paul Schlesselman

The U.S. Department of Justice reported today that white supremacist terrorist Paul Schlesselman “admitted to conspiring to murder dozens of people, with a focus on murdering African-Americans. He further acknowledged that he intended to culminate his killing spree by assassinating then-Senator Barack Obama, who was a presidential candidate at the time.”

White Supremacist Paul Schlesselman - Pled Guilty to Conspiracy, Plot to Kill Presidential Candidate Barack Obama

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has been reporting on the Paul Schlesselman/Daniel Cowart plot in October 2008 to murder 88 people and also to kill Barack Obama. According to the October 24, 2008 federal affidavit in this case, “Each individual claims to have very strong beliefs and views regarding ‘White Power’ and ‘Skinhead’ views.

The individuals began discussing going on a ‘killing spree’ that included killing 88 people and beheading 14 African Americans.” The number 88 is significant for Nazi white supremacists as representing the symbols HH, as H is the 8th letter of the alphabet. It is their code for “Heil Hitler.” The number 14 has a similar significance for two white supremacist 14-word slogans (ADL, additional reports).

The affidavit also states “while driving around Cowart and Schlesselman observed a church and decide to shoot a window out.” The affidavit identifies the target as the Beech Grove Church of Christ in Brownsville, Tennessee.

Regarding the January 14, 2010 guilty plea by Paul Schlesselman, the DOJ press release continues:

“The Department of Justice today announced that Paul Schlesselman pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, one count of threatening to kill and inflict bodily harm upon a presidential candidate, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Schlesselman faces a sentence of 10 years under the plea agreement. A sentencing date of April 15, 2010, was set by Judge J. Daniel Breen, who is presiding over the case in Jackson, Tenn.”

“Schlesselman admitted that beginning on or about Sept. 1, 2008, and continuing until Oct. 22, 2008, he conspired to transport firearms and ammunition in interstate commerce, steal firearms from a licensed firearms dealer and transport in interstate commerce a short-barreled shotgun, all for the purpose of committing murders, robberies and burglaries.”

“Schlesselman further acknowledged that on Oct. 20, 2008, he unlawfully transported an unregistered short barreled shotgun and a .357 magnum caliber handgun across state lines for the purpose of committing felonies, including racially targeted murders.”

“Schlesselman also admitted that on Oct. 23, 2008, he threatened to kill and inflict bodily harm on President Barack Obama, who was a presidential candidate at the time.”

The Memphis Commercial Appeal also reports on this story “‘Skinhead’ pleads guilty to conspiring to kill black people, threatening Obama,” stating that “”He was arrested on Oct. 22, 2008, with Daniel Cowart of Bells, Tenn. Authorities said the two men, who espouse “skinhead” and “white power” philosophies, were planning a cross-country killing spree when they were picked up in Crockett County, Tenn., where Cowart lived with his grandparents…. Cowart, who is 21, remains in custody pending a hearing Feb. 22.'”

Paul Schlesselman’s co-conspirator Daniel Cowart has been linked to the Nazi organization “Supreme White Alliance (SWA),” and has been photographed at an “Adolf Hitler Birthday Party” with SWA members; Cowart has also been listed as a member of the Stormfront Nazi organization, according to CBS News.

Daniel Cowart - CBS News reports he was a member of Stormfront

In October 2008, CBS reported that “federal investigators announced the arrests of 20-year-old Daniel Cowart of Bells, Tenn., and 18-year-old Paul Schlesselman of West Helena, Ark., who were driving around in a car painted with swastikas and other white supremacist slogans while in possession of five stolen guns.” CBS also reported that “On his MySpace page, Schlesselman lists his occupation as ‘being racist’ and writes ‘I’m white. I’m proud. I get angry. I like guns. I like weapons. I need money wiggers… be afraid.’ ‘Wiggers’ is a derogatory slang term used to describe a white person who emulates stereotypical mannerisms of African-Americans. He also posted a homemade video on MySpace in which he appears to be mocking ‘wiggers’ and African-Americans.” “He last logged onto his MySpace page on October 20 the same day, investigators say, Cowart traveled from Tennessee to Arkansas to meet with him and begin the alleged killing spree. On that day, Schlesselman listed his mood as ‘creative.’ ” “Schlesselman also lists his cell phone number on his MySpace page. CBS News called the number. His voicemail first plays what sounds like a racist country song. Then, Schlesselman leaves a disturbing rant filled with profanities and racial slurs against African-Americans. He ends the message saying ‘white power.’ ”

White Supremacist Paul Schlesselman with .357 Ruger Pistol (Photo: TrueCrimeReport.com)

Resources:

— October 24, 2008 – Federal Affadavit (PDF)

— October 2008: True Crime Report: Daniel Cowart & Paul Schlesselman: Epic Assassination Plot Fail

— CBS News, October 28, 2008: “Skinheads” Reveal All On Web

R.E.A.L. Postings on White Supremacist Terror Plot by Schlesselman / Cowart

Tennessee: White Supremacists to Get Separate Trials in February on Obama Plot

Tennessee: Cowert and Schlesselman Court Ruling — “Judge won’t toss evidence in Obama plot”

U.S.: Guardian report on white supremacist plot by Cowart and Schlesselman

Tennessee: Updated News Reports on Court Proceedings Against Daniel Cowart and Paul Schlesselman in Terrorist Plot Against Obama and Black Americans

April Court Date for White Supremacists in Terror Plot to Murder African-Americans, Assassinate Barack Obama

Tennessee: Judge refuses to dismiss charges – white supremacist terror and assassination plot on Obama

R.E.A.L.’s April 2009 Rally Defying White Supremacist Terrorism:

April 4, 2009 — DC Lincoln Memorial Rally Against Racial Supremacism

900 Reasons to Defy Racial Supremacism — But You Only Need One

What to Do About Racial Supremacism — LOVE WINS

Pray for and Reach Out to Those Hearts Burdened by Hate - Ask Them to Rejoin the Family of Humanity... LOVE WINS

Communist China: Google – “A New Approach to China” – may pull out after attacks on Human Rights computers

Google is reporting on cyber attacks on Chinese human rights activists and attacks on U.S. and European supporters of human rights for the Chinese people. BBC is reporting that Google is considering ending its operations in Communist China. Google states “We have decided we are no longer willing to continue censoring our results on Google.cn.”

The New York Times has also reported on this issue, mentioning how searches on phrases such as “Tiananmen Square massacre,” “Dalai Lama,” and other similar searches have come up blank, as well as blocks on YouTube online videos. In addition, the NYT quotes Wenqi Gao, a spokesman for the Communist Chinese Consulate in New York, who told the Times: “I want to reaffirm that China is committed to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of foreign companies in our country.”

Chinese supporters of Google have sent and laid flowers near the entrance to Google’s China office in Beijing with notes such as “Thank you for holding values over profits!” The NY Times reports that the Google announcement is being censored in news throughout Communist China. The Wall Street Journal’s China Real Time report is providing continuing coverage on this issue.

However, computer industry analysts are writing columns suggesting that Google may not leave Communist China, anticipating that “Google would be willing to settle for a more liberalized version of the censorship it already imposes on Google.cn.”

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has an online petition for your signature supporting Google’s call for ending censorship on Google.cn and asking them to stand by their decision on “a new approach to China.” We urge you to sign this petition to show Google how we feel at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/flowerch/petition.html

The "Official Google Blog" Logo (Google)

Google Blog reports following statements by David Drummond, Google Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer” — “A New Approach to China”
— “Like many other well-known organizations, we face cyber attacks of varying degrees on a regular basis. In mid-December, we detected a highly sophisticated and targeted attack on our corporate infrastructure originating from China that resulted in the theft of intellectual property from Google. However, it soon became clear that what at first appeared to be solely a security incident–albeit a significant one–was something quite different.”
— “First, this attack was not just on Google. As part of our investigation we have discovered that at least twenty other large companies from a wide range of businesses–including the Internet, finance, technology, media and chemical sectors–have been similarly targeted. We are currently in the process of notifying those companies, and we are also working with the relevant U.S. authorities.”
— “Second, we have evidence to suggest that a primary goal of the attackers was accessing the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists. Based on our investigation to date we believe their attack did not achieve that objective. Only two Gmail accounts appear to have been accessed, and that activity was limited to account information (such as the date the account was created) and subject line, rather than the content of emails themselves.”
— “Third, as part of this investigation but independent of the attack on Google, we have discovered that the accounts of dozens of U.S.-, China- and Europe-based Gmail users who are advocates of human rights in China appear to have been routinely accessed by third parties. These accounts have not been accessed through any security breach at Google, but most likely via phishing scams or malware placed on the users’ computers.”
— “We have already used information gained from this attack to make infrastructure and architectural improvements that enhance security for Google and for our users. In terms of individual users, we would advise people to deploy reputable anti-virus and anti-spyware programs on their computers, to install patches for their operating systems and to update their web browsers. Always be cautious when clicking on links appearing in instant messages and emails, or when asked to share personal information like passwords online. You can read more here about our cyber-security recommendations. People wanting to learn more about these kinds of attacks can read this U.S. government report (PDF), Nart Villeneuve’s blog and this presentation on the GhostNet spying incident.”
— “We have taken the unusual step of sharing information about these attacks with a broad audience not just because of the security and human rights implications of what we have unearthed, but also because this information goes to the heart of a much bigger global debate about freedom of speech. In the last two decades, China’s economic reform programs and its citizens’ entrepreneurial flair have lifted hundreds of millions of Chinese people out of poverty. Indeed, this great nation is at the heart of much economic progress and development in the world today.”
— “We launched Google.cn in January 2006 in the belief that the benefits of increased access to information for people in China and a more open Internet outweighed our discomfort in agreeing to censor some results. At the time we made clear that “we will carefully monitor conditions in China, including new laws and other restrictions on our services. If we determine that we are unable to achieve the objectives outlined we will not hesitate to reconsider our approach to China.””
— “These attacks and the surveillance they have uncovered–combined with the attempts over the past year to further limit free speech on the web–have led us to conclude that we should review the feasibility of our business operations in China. We have decided we are no longer willing to continue censoring our results on Google.cn, and so over the next few weeks we will be discussing with the Chinese government the basis on which we could operate an unfiltered search engine within the law, if at all. We recognize that this may well mean having to shut down Google.cn, and potentially our offices in China.”
— “The decision to review our business operations in China has been incredibly hard, and we know that it will have potentially far-reaching consequences. We want to make clear that this move was driven by our executives in the United States, without the knowledge or involvement of our employees in China who have worked incredibly hard to make Google.cn the success it is today. We are committed to working responsibly to resolve the very difficult issues raised.”

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The New York Times also reported that “many people in Silicon Valley were surprised by Google’s stance. ‘I don’t think anybody is going to run away from China,’ said Joe Schoendorf, a partner at Accel Partners, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm with a major presence in China. ‘Google has Microsoft on the ropes, and China is arguably the world’s most important market outside of the U.S. You don’t walk away from that on principle.’ ”

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) urges you to let Google know that you agree with their goals for “a new approach to China,” by signing our online petition, and by contacting Google and letting you know that you support their efforts. Their press office email is press@google.com and their telephone number is 1-650-930-3555.

Google also provides a list of its executive management at:
http://www.google.com/intl/en/corporate/execs.html

Communist China - Flowers laid at the entrance to Google's China headquarters in Beijing (Wall Street Journal - Photo by Josh Chin)

The U.S. State Department has a statement on the Google China issue, which reads:
— “We have been briefed by Google on these allegations, which raise very serious concerns and questions. We look to the Chinese government for an explanation. The ability to operate with confidence in cyberspace is critical in a modern society and economy. I will be giving an address next week on the centrality of internet freedom in the 21st century, and we will have further comment on this matter as the facts become clear.”

Media Reports:

Wall Street Journal’s “China Real Time Report” Continuing Coverage on Communist China-Google News

BBC: Google ‘may pull out of China after Gmail cyber attack’
— BBC reports: “Google said the e-mail accounts of Chinese human rights activists were the primary target of the attack, which occurred in December.”

BBC: Chinese surprise at Google pull-out threat

Guardian: Google challenge to China over censorship

CNN: Google’s gutsy move

Washington Post: China faces backlash from ‘netizens’ if Google leaves

NY Times: Google’s Threat Echoed Everywhere, Except China
— NY Times reports: “Google’s declaration that it would stop cooperating with Chinese Internet censorship and consider shutting down its operations in the country ricocheted around the world Wednesday. But in China itself, the news was heavily censored.”

NY Times: Google, Citing Attack, Threatens to Exit China

Washington Post: Google threatens to leave China after attacks on activists’ e-mail
— Washington Post reports: ” ‘It’s clear that this attack was so pervasive and so essential to the core of Google’s intellectual property that only in such a situation would they contemplate pulling the plug on their entire business model in China,’ said James Mulvenon, a China cyber expert with Defense Group Inc.”
— “Congressional sources said the other companies include Adobe and possibly Northrop Grumman and Dow Chemical. Industry sources said the attacks were even broader, affecting 34 firms.”

BBC: UK officials ‘to debrief Google on China cyber attack’

WSJ: Flowers for Google in China

WSJ: Google’s Watershed Moment in China

USA Today: Google stops short of fingering China for cyberattacks

VOA: Internet Censorship at Center of Google Dispute with China

CNET News: Google’s challenge in China

Guardian: Google blazes a trail with China rift

Guardian: US asks China to explain Google hacking claims

Guardian: Google pulls out of China: what the bloggers are saying

Mirror: Google admits Chinese human rights activists’ Gmail accounts were hacked

PC World: Google Hack Raises Serious Concerns, US Says

Google / Adobe Report Internal Attack from China

WSJ: Google China Employees in Limbo

PC World: Google Pulling Out of China? Don’t Bet On It

WSJ: Testing the Google.cn Filters

Flowers at Google Beijing Office with the Note "Google: Pure Man"

Petition Supporting Google Call to End Internet Censorship in China

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has an online petition for your signature supporting Google’s call for ending censorship on Google.cn and asking them to stand by their decision on “a new approach to China.” R.E.A.L. has posted on this subject at our blog at https://www.realcourage.org

We urge you to sign this petition to show Google how we feel at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/flowerch/petition.html
R.E.A.L.’s petition reads:

We, the members of the world community who stand for our universal human rights of liberty and freedom, support Google corporate management in its calls to end Internet censorship in Communist China. We urge Google corporate management to stand by its call for “a new approach to China.” We support Google corporate management’s position that “We have decided we are no longer willing to continue censoring our results on Google.cn.”

Our universal human rights of freedom, liberty, and equality apply to every part of the world, including Communist China. We support Google corporate management’s decision to defend such universal human rights, and we urge all Google corporate management to stand firm to this statement.

Like those in Beijing today who have supported Google’s statement by leaving flowers at Google’s Beijing office, we too extend our “flowers for Google” by supporting their position to be responsible for equality and liberty in China today. We urge other corporations to learn from Google’s statement and recognize that their customers do view our universal human rights as a human priority.

Universal human rights are all of our rights, and all of our responsibility.

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Show Google that corporate responsibility on universal human rights (everywhere – in any language) is the type of responsibility that we share and that we appreciate.