Christian Nationalist "Minutemen" Convening in Lexington, MA?
Chip Berlet printable version print page     Bookmark and Share
Mon Mar 12, 2007 at 03:53:58 PM EST
Some of the same Christian Nationalists who helped fan the media hysteria over the staged events tied to "Judge Moore in Alabama, Terri Schiavo in Florida, and the 10 commandments in Washington DC" have called for a convocation April 19th-21st, 2007, of contemporary Christian patriot "Minutemen" at the historic Battle Green in Lexington, MA to save America from the new tryanny of the courts and the spreading sinful stain of homosexual marriage.

The convention is titled: "Someone Has Stolen My Country And I Want Her Back" and it is announced that at this meeting, just as the Minutlemen of 1776 rejected oppressive rule, the attendees will gather to reject the court decision at an event "Where we will have no other king but KING JESUS!" What prompted this new crusade is a federal court decision that the solution for parents who object to every aspect of a gay-tolerant curriculum is to send their children to private schools rather than having the courts favor their minority viewpoint by rewriting the curriculum. This, in the framing of the Christian Nationalists, is "judicial tyranny."

According to an announcement from Minutemen United:

"It seems as if Lexington, Mass. is ground zero in the battle for the soul of America. Just last week a Federal Judge in Boston threw out a law suit by David Parker. To read more about the Parker's legal battle with the government schools read here. When tossing the Parker case the judge said that normalizing homosexuality to young children is ' reasonably related to the goals of preparing students to become engaged and productive citizens in our democracy.' According to Wolf, this means teaching 'diversity' which includes differences in sexual orientation. This case is about the rights of parents to 'train a child in the way that he should go.' The courts are consistently ruling against parents."

http://minutemenunited.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=717

What follows is more detailed information:

The Convention

Sponsored by The Patriot Pastor & The Heroes of Liberty & The Minutemen United

LEXINGTON MASSACHUSETTS …
THE CRADLE OF AMERICAN LIBERTY AND FREEDOM
April 19th-21st 2007 AD

The convention has rented the Knights of Columbus Hall at 177 Bedford St. in Lexington.

The Trumpet is being sounded again
To All Who Can Hear The Clarion Call and Respond.
There is an Alarm being sent through out The Nation from Sea to Shining Sea.

http://www.thewelloflivingwater.com/lexington/

You can find one version of the flyer at: http://www.thewelloflivingwater.com/lexington/Lex07fly.pdf5.pdf

The Patriot Pastor

Patriot Pastor Garrett Lear of The Well of Living Water Christian Church, Wakefield, NH.

http://www.thewelloflivingwater.com/lexington/

The Heroes of Liberty may refer to the "Black-robed" ministers of the colonies called the "Black Regiment," according to Lear, who appears in full colonial regalia in photos on his website.

http://www.thewelloflivingwater.com/regiment.shtml

Lear appears a bit of a Falstaff in one photo where he stands next to an artful sign proclaiming:

Biblical View
of Government
...state is
Divinely
Ordained
...state authority is
Limited
...leads to
Patriotism
...results in Republic
...based on
Creation

Minutemen United

The group Minutemen United describes itself:

"Minutemen United is a group of men and women dedicated to creating an environment where Christian thoughts, ideals and leaders can get traction in the marketplace of ideas. We hail from New York to California and are headquartered in Ohio 'the heart of it all'. "

"We recognize and honor those brave souls who prayed , lived and died for our Constitutional Republic. We believe the founding fathers "got it" when they created a ruling document and supporting instruments that serve and undeniably recognize our creator - the God of Abraham , Isaac and Jacob."

http://www.minutemenunited.org/

According to Minutemen United:

"In April of 2006 a group of Christian Patriots traveled to Danbury, Connecticut and held a prayer vigil at the site of the original Danbury Baptist Church. It was at that church that the course of America changed when the Baptist constructed a letter to then-President Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson's response of 1801 contained the much-quoted line "separation of church and state" that was eventually made law by Justice Hugo Black and the Supremes in 1947."

http://www.minutemenunited.org/

Minutemen United is run by Dave Daubenmire:

"Dave Daubenmire, a veteran 25 year high school football coach, was spurred to action when attacked and eventually sued by the ACLU in the late 1990's for alledgedly mixing prayer with his coaching."

"More than two centuries later we believe that America is facing another crisis. If God fearing men and women do not arise to action NOW, we believe that the very sovereignty of this great nation may once again be in jeopardy. It is our belief that the only thing that can save this nation is a return to Christ. We declare Him to be our Commander-in-Chief, and choose to fight the battle by standing on the Word of God."

http://www.minutemenunited.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=14

Coach Dave Daubenmir also runs "Pass the Salt Ministries."

http://www.ptsalt.com/

"Challenging the 'church of the Status Quo', Pass The Salt is calling Christians to engage the culture. By taking the fight to the enemy Coach Daubenmire has become a recognizable voice with the media as he is an unashamed, articulate, apologist for the Christian world view. Coach's willingness to stand with Judge Moore in Alabama, Terri Schiavo in Florida, and the 10 commandments in Washington DC, has enabled him to partner with some of the nationally known voices in America."

"In addition to his weekly radio show, Coach has made regular national appearances on Hannity and Colmes, CBS Evening News, Scarborough Country on MSNBC, Fox News, The Edge with Paula Zahn, Dayside with Linda Vester, and Court TV."

http://www.ptsalt.com/about

Featured products include an audio series titled "Rebuilding the Walls:"

http://www.ptsalt.com/products/

Massachusetts was the site of the 2006 Liberty Sunday rally which I wrote about previously:

October 15: Liberty Sunday - Bigotry, Gay Bashing, and Partisan Pandering
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2006/10/9/19229/8084

Liberty Sunday: Gay Bashing for Republican Victory
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2006/10/16/10925/259

It appear that Massachusetts will remain a target of Christian Nationalist and homophobic activism for the foreseeable future. Several major national Christian Right groups have already denounced the ruling. Stay tuned...


Chip Berlet, Senior Analyst, Political Research Associates

The Public Eye: Website of Political Research Associates
Chip's Blog




Display:
This group deserves a watchful eye.

You can be sure that "Patriot Pastors" around the country are tuned into what happens at this event.

by Mainstream Baptist on Mon Mar 12, 2007 at 03:56:51 PM EST


He was a coach at London High School (near Columbus) and faced a lawsuit by the ACLU for leading the team players in prayer. Daubenmire sued the board members asking for his dismissal, and his suit was dismissed. The local school district and Daubenmire settled the ACLU litigation, and then Daubenmire resigned his coach's position and then became a local Christian talk show host and started Pass the Salt Ministries.

by khughes1963 on Mon Mar 12, 2007 at 10:07:27 PM EST
Thanks for the info.  Anyone else have information?  We can create a resource collection for the folks in Massachusetts who have to deal with these "Patriots."
_ _ _

Chip Berlet: Research for Progress - Building Human Rights
by Chip Berlet on Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 10:41:25 AM EST
Parent


It could simply be a coincidence that they picked April 19th to kick off their convention but most christian nationalists are probably aware of the significance of this date.  

April 19th is the date that the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas burned down and is also the date that Timothy McVeigh bombed the Alfred P. Murrah building in Oklahoma City, OK.  This is a date that has been rallied around by christian nationalists and white supremacists/seperatists for many years now.  It is a date equated with violence and calls for the violent overthrow of the government.  

This is a group of people that definitely needs to be watched closely.  

by Ross Raymond on Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 12:43:39 PM EST


Are they going to sell salt shakers to finance their 'ministry'?  Perhaps one in the likeness of Miles Standish?
Maybe we should sell pepper shakers in the likeness of Roger Williams! just a love offering would help to finance OUR ministry to the downtrodden rightwingers....

by rdrjames on Mon Mar 19, 2007 at 07:24:20 PM EST


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