[Libloather]

Church Erects Easter Cross In Response To Cross Burnings
POSTED: 6:12 pm EDT May 29, 2005

An Episcopal church in Durham erected this Easter cross in response to the three crosses that were recently burned.

DURHAM, N.C. -- A Durham congregation is countering a message of hate with a message of love.

Three large crosses were found burning in Durham last week -- one near St. Luke's Episcopal Church.

The church has responded by erecting an Easter cross.

"Someone intended to send a message of evil, but we will send a message of good," said Bishop Michael Curry.

While St. Luke's Episcopal Church doesn't feel it was a target of the cross burnings, it does feel a responsibility to reclaim what some say has left a dark mark on Durham.

"We reach out to those who burn the cross and say, 'No, you don't need to burn a cross. You don't need to be afraid,'" Curry said.

Episcopalian leaders believe the cross burnings were placed in high-traffic areas so they could be seen.

Church leaders said their Easter cross, which is visible from I-85, would be up for only a day or two. After coming together to heal, they said, the community must move on.

"I hope they see we're peaceful and loving, and that we care about our community," Lorraine Haskell, a member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, said.

[Libloather]

Durham Group Files For Grant In Wake Of Cross Burnings
POSTED: 6:58 am EDT May 31, 2005

DURHAM, N.C. -- A group in Durham will apply for an emergency grant and use it to help ease tensions after three cross burnings.

Police found fliers referencing the Ku Klux Klan near one of the crosses. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the cases as a hate crime.

The grant will help with community mobilizations and meetings to build a commission.

A reconciliation rally is planned for Sunday in Durham.

[Antonello]

Can anybody account for Sen. Sheets whereabouts last week?

[MikefromOhio]

Klukkers, DUmmies or Muslims?

my guess would be Klukkers

[F.J. Mitchell]

The last I heard about the KKK before this cross burning crap, the Aclu and Southern Poverty Law Center had won so many suits against the Klan, that it had been added to the endangered species list.

It seems a little asinine and a whole lot disingenuous, when the residents and city officials of a city such as Durham, beset by murderous halfwitted gang members, shooting it out day and night with complete disregard of how many innocent people they kill, completely lose it over three cross burnings-regardless of who the hell did the burning.

Burning three crosses with no casualties whatsoever, ain't diddly sh*t compared to the crimes reported daily in Durham. Pull your head out people!!!!!

[Alia]

NC *Ping*

Please FRmail Constitution Day OR TaxRelief OR Alia if you want to be added to or removed from this North Carolina ping list.

[Hatteras]

Can you say, "Tawana Brawley"? I knew you could...

I worked for a number of years around downtown and Brightleaf Square. If this is the work of the Klan then they are outta-towners, not Durham residents. The only white Durham residents are students and professors and your basic artsy-fartsy, bohemian types.

Never saw a Klan hood standing on the corner but every couple of weeks they still have the anti-Bush protestors on Saturday morning standing on the corner of Main Street and Gregson.

I'm not saying that the Klan doesn't exist in NC, but I'm suspicious of anything that goes on with Durham. The town is a drain on the state but they do have some pretty cool old buildings and neighborhoods.