Two women protesters shouted at Rev. Rick Warren shortly after he began his keynote sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church in downtown Atlanta Monday.
One of the women, seen here pointing in the air, waved a yellow scarf, as she shouted, "Rick Warren is a bigot, Rick Warren is a bigot," at Ebenezer Baptist Church during the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial Day ceremonies on Monday, Jan. 19, 2009. (Photo: Dave Bender)
Security officials tore the scarf from the woman's hand during the altercation, which took place shortly before 1:00 PM and quickly hustled both out of the sanctuary.
A few moments later, two male protesters stood up and turned their backs to Warren, and were also escorted out of the building.
The identity of the protesters was unclear, although several dozen demonstrators with signs held a protest outside the church earlier against what they said was Warren's positions on gay rights and abortion.
The group was larger earlier in the morning, but dispersed, according to reports.
Security personnel hurry one of the women out of the sanctuary at Ebenezer Baptist Church during the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial Day ceremonies on Monday, Jan. 19, 2009. (Photo: Dave Bender)
Police and Sheriff Department details, and FBI and Homeland Security personnel showed a heavy presence in the vicinity of the church, and closed off streets surrounding the building.
Dozens of dignitaries attended the service, including Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss, who gave a brief address.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Protesters Shout at Warren During Ebenezer Sermon
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Ga. School Rappers to Perform at Inauguration
A group of students from an inner-city Atlanta private elementary school that scored an Internet hit with a rap about the election is headed to Washington, D.C., to perform during inauguration events.
About 20 students from the Ron Clark Academy will sing their new song, "Dear Obama," during at least four inaugural balls on Jan. 20. At one of the events, the students will share the stage with R&B stars Usher and Patti LaBelle.
The students wrote the new song as a follow-up to their YouTube hit "Vote However U Like," which landed the children on ABC's "Good Morning America," CNN and BET.
Clark wrote the best-selling teaching book "The Essential 55" and who was portrayed by Matthew Perry in the TNT movie "The Ron Clark Story."
The school instructs inner-city fifth- through eighth-graders.
On the Net: Ron Clark Academy: http://www.ronclarkacademy.com/
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Monday, February 4, 2008
Columbus: poly-sci expert considers Obama-Clinton odds
Muscogee County
Barack Obama will have an edge over Hillary Clinton in Muscogee County, according to a Columbus State University political science expert.
When polling stations open in Georgia Tuesday morning, Columbus headquarters for the two Democratic contenders will have tried to outdo each other, for what one analyst calls the progressive, liberal voter.
Tom Dolan, who chairs the political science department at CSU, says over 4,000 voters cast their ballot in Early elections in Muscogee County so far; the highest the county has seen:
"I suspect Obama will do better in Georgia and I suspect he'll do better in Columbus."Dolan says while Obama attracts younger voters, they were less likely to actually get to polling stations.
County voting officials are predicting a 25% local voter turnout in tomorrow's primary, and state officials put the overall numbers at about 30-percent.
Click here for more GPB News primary election coverage.