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Washington
Pastor
Accuses State
of Racism
 A Seattle-area pastor is
accusing the executive director of the Washington State Commission on
African American Affairs of racist comments, but the gubernatorial
appointee denies the charges. Pastor Ken Hutcherson is still pursuing
action against the teacher at Mt. Si High School in Snoqualmie,
Washington, who interrupted his Martin Luther King Day speech to voice
his opposition to Hutcherson's Christian views on marriage and
sexuality. Teacher George Potratz later compared Hutcherson's support
for the biblical condemnation of homosexual behavior with advocacy for
slavery.
Hutcherson perceived Potratz's comment, in the context of the Martin
Luther King Day appearance, as racist and complained to the Washington
State Commission on African American Affairs. But after two telephone
conversations with the commission's executive director Rosalund
Jenkins, Hutcherson is now accusing the gubernatorial appointee of
making racist comments as well.
"She said to me, 'Well, if you were the pastor of a black church, that
would have much more impact than being the black pastor over there with
a white church, and you're the one that has chosen,' basically, 'to
live over there with those people,'" Hutcherson details.
Hutcherson was asked who Jenkins was referring to as "those people?" "White people," he answered.
However, Jenkins disputes Hutcherson's account of the conversation.
"That's not exactly what I said. What I said was that, from the
perspective of the Commission on African American Affairs, when there
is an issue that's involving a church congregation and maybe a
political work that that church may be doing, that it's a little
different kind of role and a little different positioning for us to be
able to get involved when the congregation of the church is...a black
church or a black denomination," she contends.
She also denied the comment about Hutcherson choosing to "live over there with those [white] people."
"Again, I'm not sure that's exactly what I said," Jenkins states. "I
explained that the whole Pacific Northwest – there are very few
black people here and we all here know that we're...in the
minority...So, it's certainly a fact of life for all of us who are
here, and it can't come to any of us as a surprise that there are
certain communities where we are not quite as welcome...," she explains.
Even after hearing Jenkins' defense, Hutcherson is still livid. "You
have got to be kidding me. So, if I don't play the natural, African
American game, [if] I don't line up politically, naturally with the
African Americans, and if I'm not living in the black community, then I
really don't have any rights when it comes to the African American
Affairs (Commission) here in the State of Washington," he questions. "I
mean, that's enough to get you a little bit upset. And I could not
believe I was hearing this coming from the head of the African American
Affairs (Commission) that where I live and what kind of church I have
affects my equal rights and protections for being African American,"
Hutcherson points out.
During a second conversation with Jenkins, Hutcherson said what he
believes to be the real issue became clearer. "I was also informed by
Miss Jenkins that there is a homosexual member of her Commission on
African American Affairs, so I can basically forget about fighting the
issues of racism and homosexuality and have them help," Hutcherson adds.
Jenkins again disputed Hutcherson's account. "That's not exactly right, either," Jenkins says.
She then elaborated that she needed a pure claim of racial
discrimination to present to the commission. "Because, unless it was
clearly an issue of racial discrimination, and one where I could
definitively say, 'This is a black issue that I'm bringing to you,'
that it would be rather awkward to bring that to the commission because
we do have a member who is gay...it would be much easier and much more
effective for me to be able to go to the commission with a clear
picture that painted the racial discrimination piece with clear edges
so that we could address it," Jenkins expounds.
Hutcherson is beginning to believe that Jenkins just is not hearing his
complaint against the teacher. "Well, what about the statement that the
teacher made in the public meeting that if I don't stop going down this
road fighting on this fight about homosexuality, maybe they should
think about reinstating slavery? She said, 'He was making a comparison,
just letting you know how important and what's going on with the
homosexuals in this day. And you need to drop that statement and forget
it.' Now this is coming from an African American woman,"
Hutcherson recounts.
While Hutcherson is critical of Jenkins, he realizes that she is just
parroting the pro-homosexual leanings of her boss, Gov. Christine
Gregoire. "We have a governor who is showing favoritism like never
before. And it's time for us to do something out here as Christians and
as African Americans and people who want right done," Hutcherson notes.
Jenkins says Hutcherson is welcome to appeal her decision to the
chairman of the commission, but Hutcherson has another idea. "I believe
God is the greatest power – not money, not homosexuals, not the
governor of this state or any other elected official," Hutcherson
admits.
Hutcherson says he will continue to press the commission for an
investigation of Potratz' comments and the alleged racism at Mt. Si
High School and also will continue to battle homosexual activists who
are attempting to use the public schools to promote their political
agenda.
Source: OneNewsNow
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