Date: Wed, 19 Jun 1996 15:03:02 -0400 (EDT) From: A Jay Eddy Subject: AJC Joins as Co-Sponsor of Ft.Lauderdale Walk for Justice-Coral Ridge Ministries June 19, 1996 Released by: Coalition of Concerned Citizens for Tolerance & Individual Rights Letters of Support Ft.Lauderdale: A Demonstration at Coral Ridge Church & Knox Ministries "A WALK FOR JUSTICE & PRAYER FOR TOLERANCE" Wed.Evening (6-8 P.M.) June 6th ================================================================ June 17, 1996 AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS Joins "Prayer for Tolerance" Rally Contact: Jack Karako (305-944-0018) The American Jewish Congress Southeast Region has announced that they have joined a coalition of South Florida human rights advocates planning a peaceful "Pray for Tolerance" demonstration at the Coral Ridge Ministries (5555 N. Federal Highway, Ft.Lauderdale) on Wednesday, June l9th, at 6:00 p.m. Jack Karako, Executive Director for the organization stated that Rev. D. James Kennedy of the Coral Ridge Ministries has "exercised poor judgement, insensitivity and intolerance against people with religious beliefs than that of his own by calling for 'the reclaiming America for Christ' and has engaged in a virulent and provocative attack against gay and lesbian citizens through a series of blatant untruths." "American Jewish Congress has long fought to protect constitutional freedoms, particularly the civil and religious rights and liberties of all Americans and clearly supports the separation of church and state. We helped draft the Religious Freedom Restoration Act which recognizes the diversity of America's religious heritage. As Jews, we cannot permit Rev. Kennedy to scapegoat a particular segment for all the ills of society. We know all to well where that type of hatred has led humankind" added Karako. American Jewish Congress will join a broad coalition of more than a dozen organizations at the planned rally, including the National Organization for Women of South Palm Beach County and Broward County; Parents, Families and Friends of Gays: Congregation Etz Chaim: Gay United to Attack Repression & Discrimination; The American Federation of Veterans; and many others. ************************************************************** June 17, 1996 Rev. Dr. Mel White Minister of Justice (214) 878-8908 The Universal Fellowship of MCC * An Open Letter to my friends who are walking for justice against the false and inflammatory rhetoric of D.James Kennedy* It is strange that a man who follows Jesus can use hyperbole, half-truth, and tragic pseudo-scientific invention to condemn millions of innocent Americans. In our brief meeting during last year's Reclaiming...Conference, Mr. Kennedy stood above me shouting" Repent. Repent. You could get over being gay if you would just repent." His technique for 'curing' homosexuality is right up there with leeches and lobotomies. I'm sure James is sincere, but he is sincerely wrong about so many things. Best wishes as you walk in prayer and tolerance to awaken his followers before more families are broken, more lives are wasted, and more reputations ruined. I am walking with you in spirit. Much love and Godspeed! ***************************************************************** June 19, 1996 For Immediate Release Contact: Karl Clark, National President THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF VETERANS "An Alliance for Equality of Rights" 954-782-1095 A WALK FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE - THE NEED FOR TOLERANCE & COMMUNICATIONS The American Federation of Veterans (AmFedVets) extends its congratulations and support to each and every woman and man walking for Justice and Tolerance on Wednesday evening June 19th outside the Ft. Lauderdale, Coral Ridge Church and Ministries. It is tragic that there are fundamentalists and evangelical leaders who continue to spearhead the incarceration of gays who serve in the military. It is equally as immoral that huge sums of money are being generated to deny equality while those calling for freedom for themselves reject it for others. It is time for all people of faith and those who believe in "One nation under God with liberty and justice for all" to demand an end to the bigotry and intolerance that continues to fester because of ignorance and misinformation. We understand that Dr. Kennedy is calling upon his supporters to "Reclaim America for Christ" when Christ himself asked his followers to give up everything, follow Him and walk with the poor and persecuted. We remind all Americans of the tragedy of Germany's "Krystal Nacht." We caution against the casting of the seeds of intoler- ance in this great nation. We fear the germination of such a demonic inspired sowing. The evil of hate and persecution, in a nation that was founded as a bastion and light of freedom for the persecuted minorities, must be quelled if we are to survive in peace and brotherly love. ************************************************************ June 19, 1996 Shayne Moss, Pres. NOW P.O. Box 23640 Ft.Lauderdale, FL 33307 The National Organization for Women's Broward Chapter is proud to co-sponsor today's peaceful protest against Coral Ridge Ministries and its leader, D. James Kenned. D. James Kennedy's agenda includes limiting or denying rights to anyone whose religious or spiritual beliefs differ from his own or whose sexual orientation he disagrees with. D. James Kennedy has called for the "restoring of Christ's place in our public squares and buildings." He wishes to convert all to his own religious beliefs. Broward NOW opposes Kennedy's message of hate, intolerance, and narrowmindedness. Broward NOW is here today to call for a more open-minded society, one that accepts the diversity of its citizens and calls for inclusion, not intolerance. Broward NOW opposes D. James Kennedy's anti-choice position. Today, and always, we will oppose any restrictions on women's right to choose. We stand for the separation of Church and State so that ALL may be represented. Again,. we are proud to be here today to protest bigotry and intolerance and to celebrate diversity *************************************************************** June 19, 1996 PRESS RELEASE Contact: M. Warren, President 954-563-3626 June 19th Vigil - A Walk for Justice and a Prayer for Peace Relative to the issue of sexual orientation and D. James Kennedy's position on targeted minorities, the Broward Log Cabin Club of Florida was once again quite astonished at the lack of sensitivity and the flow of misinformation stemming from the preaching and writings of the leaders within the Knox Ministries and political active supporters of Coral Ridge Church. Kennedy has seemingly selected gay women and men as his Biblical scapegoat.In a drive to blame he often faults the alleged decline in family values and the breakup of the American home on minori- ties that mirror the exact emotion, pain and suffering of so- called "Christian America." Has he forgotten that we are Christian, Jew, believers and non-believers too? Has he forgotten that all of us subsequently formulate and constitute the great American melting-pot in which all must live equitably? Fortunately America is more than just fundamentalist Christian, was more than just Christian before the colonists came from Europe to settle these shores and, as a nation, was never intended to be dominated by inbreeding of church and state. It was envisioned as a haven from persecution, a shelter for individual rights to blossom and a home for the free and brave enabling all to share in the gifts of God and earth equally under the law. It's time to communicate! It's the moment to tolerate! And, it's the hour to cooperate in the straight-forward wisdom of the "Golden Rule." We call upon all rigid evangelical fundamentalists to end the rhetoric and extend the love depicted in the Biblical history of a Man who "walked among the poor and persecuted." *************************************************************** June 16, 1996 Atlantic Coast Democratic Club P.O. Box 182, West Palm Beach, Fl. 33416 "A Walk for Justice and a Prayer for Tolerance" We Are Proud to be Americans! The Board of directors of the Atlantic Coast Democratic Club of Palm Beach County want to go on record and clearly state our position on the extension of broad-based Human Rights, guaranteed by the U.S. constitution, to Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Americans. Rev. D. James Kennedy and his Coral Ridge Ministries are collaborating with Pat Robertson and The Christian Coalition as part of the radical religious right's scapegoating of the Gay and Lesbian Community Nationwide. Reverend Kennedy persists in promoting intolerance, discrimination and mean-spirited bigotry in his sermons and in programs like "Operation Breakthrough." Rev. Kennedy refuses to honor the separation of church and state and works from his religious base to undermine the efforts of Gays and Lesbians in their struggle for 'Equal Rights.' Here in the southeast, Coral Ridge Ministries and the Rev. D. James Kennedy have become synonymous with judgmental bias and the hateful intolerance battering of the non-heterosexual minority. *************************************************************** June 17, 1996 BWNT of South Florida (954) 985-9944 We, the officers of BWMT, South Florida Chapter, wish to announce with pride and respect our support for the peaceful demonstration at Coral ridge Church, Ft. Lauderdale, June 19th, l996. BWMT/S.FL is a multi-racial organization dedicated to providing a supportive environment in which gay men can work together to understand racial and cultural differences, and celebrate diversity. We stand with our brothers and sisters in the community on this Walk for Justice and Prayer for Tolerance. **************************************************************** June 17, 1996 PFLAG - (407-272-1637) Southeast Region Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), is deeply concerned about the impact on our loved ones, from the hateful speech, distortions and venom spewing forth from the Coral Ridge Ministries. According to PFLAG Southeast Regional Director Carole Benowitz "PFLAG acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity and we celebrate real family values." The institutional bigotry of Coral Ridge Ministries and its national allies is extremely harmful to gay and lesbian youth, whose suicide and school dropout rate is higher in proportion that their contemporaries. This kind of rhetoric is dangerous and destructive to all human beings including their own gay family members and gay congregants. *****************************************************************