Obama Pastor’s Texas, Florida Appearances Canceled for Security Reasons
The Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. — the former pastor of the church Barack Obama has attended for 20 years — has canceled scheduled appearances in Houston and Fort Worth, Texas, and Tampa, Fla., citing security issues.
The Rev. Marcus Cosby, pastor at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, told Houston television station KTRK and the Houston Chronicle that safety concerns had prompted Wright’s decision. Wright was scheduled to give three sermons there on Sunday.
Cosby told the Chronicle that Wright cited three reasons for canceling: “the safety of the institution to which he has been invited; the safety of his family, which has been placed in harm’s way; and for his own safety.”
Wright was also supposed to go to Fort Worth to accept an award at the Brite Divinity School, but a spokesperson for the school told FOX News Wright has canceled. The award will still be given to Wright, but a surrogate is expected to pick it up for him.
The changes to his Texas schedule came after his appearance was called off at the Bible-Based Fellowship Church of Temple Terrace, Fla., near Tampa, where he was previously set to speak for three nights starting Tuesday evening.
Rev. Earl Mason, senior pastor at the church, said he canceled Wright’s visit because the local sheriff’s office would not agree to provide the necessary security without charging the church extra, and that he had concerns about escorting Wright and maintaining crowd control.
Mason said the church was under no pressure from the Obama campaign to cancel the appearance. He praised Wright, calling him a friend and mentor, and blasted the media for taking his statements out of context.
It’s unclear whether Wright will attend other scheduled events this weekend in North Texas.
“His schedule is pending,” Joan Harrell, minister of communications for Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, where Wright was pastor for nearly four decades, told The Dallas Morning News for its Tuesday online editions. The newspaper said that she wouldn’t elaborate.
A call to the church placed before business hours by The Associated Press was not immediately returned Wednesday.
In North Texas over the weekend, Wright is supposed to speak at a Saturday luncheon at Paul Quinn College in Oak Cliff and be honored that night at Friendship-West Baptist Church in the Red Bird area.
Frederick Haynes III, pastor of Friendship-West Baptist, said Tuesday night that the Dallas events are “all systems go,” but he acknowledged that security issues could keep Wright away.
“We’re going to honor him,” he said. “The question is, basically, regarding his presence.”
Wright retired last month from the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago after nearly 40 years of service. He has been criticized in recent weeks for making anti-American and racially charged statements in his sermons. Obama condemned some of those remarks in a high-profile speech a week ago in Philadelphia.
Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that Wright “would not have been my pastor.”
Click here to read more about Wright’s canceled appearance at MyFox Tampa Bay.
FOX News’ Steve Harrigan and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
I’ve been deeply offended by people spouting off about Wright and Obama supporters. Some so called Christians clearly aren’t. And - many are clearly uninformed about the general state of living while black in America.
You are free to be offended by Obama’s candidacy and each and every person in his life. However my ears are not garbage cans and I am ashamed of the democratic party for giving sustenance to so many people who so readily trash someone without looking into it more carefully.
After this election I plan to de-register as a Democrat and re-register as an Independent.
sign me a typical older professional white woman who supports Obama.
It’s the Obama way hiding his mentor, all of them should leave the good old USA and fine other countries to live in. Wise men once said “one don’t know how easy we have it, until it’s not their anymore”.
Would not go to a church because of a pastor or whatever he holds but because of my believe, and I cannot be held responsible for whatever he says contrary to the canon of the bible unless you want to tell me Jesus did not promise judgment on the last day. any reasons can place one to a church because the church is the saved and God adds people to to a church. Every one will answer on his actions on earth since no one bears another’s sins. So lets keeps this distractions away ans talk facts facing us all. Ludicrous