Posted on 09/04/2004 7:04:13 AM PDT by Land_of_Lincoln_John
On Wednesday, Cook County election officials moved five polling sites out of an Orland Park church because of controversial comments made by that church's pastor.
On Friday, Chicago election officials followed, moving three polling sites out of a Chicago church run by the same pastor.
Ashburn Baptist Church, near 83rd and Kedzie, won't be the polling site for three 18th Ward precincts this year, Chicago Board of Elections spokesman Tom Leach said. Though a new polling site hasn't been selected yet for the Nov. 2 general election, he said board members were unanimous in deciding to move to a new site.
"Our guarantee to voters, which we post at every polling place, is that they be allowed to cast a ballot in a non-disruptive atmosphere, free of interference," Leach said. "It's hard enough to get people to come to the polls, but if they're intimidated or feel they're not welcome at the poll, or where there's a hint of prejudice, we've got to do something about that."
Leach said the city received no complaints about the Rev. Vernon Lyons or his Chicago church, which is in contrast to the Ashburn Baptist Church that Lyons runs at 15401 Wolf Rd. in Orland Park.
Lyons led an unsuccessful effort to block a mosque from coming to Orland Park, and in that debate, he said Muslims are either involved in terrorism or are financial supporters of it. Some Muslims who vote at polling sites in Lyons' church told county Clerk David Orr they'd be uncomfortable there, given Lyons' comments, and Orr moved the polls to nearby public buildings.
Leach said moving the three Chicago polling sites will impact about 1,600 registered voters, all of whom will be notified of a new site.
Yasser Tabbara, director of Chicago's Council on American Islamic Relations, praised the moves by Orr and Leach, but lamented the need to make such moves.
"It's like when African-Americans got the right to vote but then had to go in buildings saying 'whites only,'" Tabbara said. "But I am glad the board fulfilled their duty and are making sure that polling places are friendly environments for the entire population."
Screw muslims. Go ahead and ban me, but islam is the problem. A baptist minister objects to muslims voting in his church and the government reacts to the muslims. Whats next? A law demanding Muslim kids get to pray to the east at school?
I dont patronize any muzzie owned businesses.
Imagine that. Someone not wanting a terrorist command center located in their nieghborhood. Pastor Lyons obviously akipped his sensitivity training class.
Unfortunately, the knucklehead lefties are in charge.
Look for a unit on Islam in American schools. This unit will be required to graduate. Its coming, just watch..
One word Beslan.
You don't denounce it then you are then the barabarians you have painted yourselves to be.
They wont denounce it, not until the outcry gets to loud. Then they will grudgingly put a one line comment on the CAIR website. I hate the muslims for making me a bigot. I wasnt one before 9-11.
Why do they have a polling place in a church in the first place? Talk about separation of church and state.
Telling the truth like doing a good deed never goes unpunished. Those who want the truth hidden seek power so they can hide it.
Now where exactly is that in the Constitution? Or is it one of those "emanations from a penumbra" like the right to an abortion?
Not sure about your question. You want the state and church to mix or you want the state to sponsor religion?
Personally, I think once there is a state sponsored religion, the state will be tempted to legislate the churches.
The country was founded by theists, on theistic princinciples, with a form of goverment largely borrowed from the Presbyterian church, so I have no problem that we we were organized as a Nation under God.
They don't need a law to allow a "Muslim place to pray". The schools willingly supply it .. fearful of what the Muslims will do .. or .. as usual, the liberal weenies at schools cave to any outside force.
Our Christian children are castigated for praying at school .. but places are provided for Muslims.
When is the outside force of PARENTS going to rise up and make their voices heard at the school.
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