Sharpton rallies for ''justice'' during speech
Don Walker / Staff Writer
Posted on June 4, 2003

Shane Bevel
The Rev. Al Sharpton spoke to a full house at Lake Bethlehem Baptist Church on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Shreveport about the shooting of Marquise Hudspeth by Shreveport police officers.
Part presidential campaign, part preaching and all passionate, the Rev. Al Sharpton told an overflow crowd at Lake Bethlehem Baptist Church on Tuesday night, "somebody's got to stand up for the truth.

"If you stand up, God will hold you up."

The 48-year-old Sharpton, a Democrat, is an announced candidate in the 2004 presidential election. His trip to Shreveport, however, was not meant as a political rally but instead was prompted by local black ministers and activists to refocus local attention and possibly draw national attention to the controversial March 15 shooting death of Shreveporter Marquise Hudspeth, 25, by local police.

"I wanted to come tonight to say, 'When you shot Marquise, we felt those bullets,'' Sharpton told more than 1,000 people who filled the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive community church. "We are not anti-police. Who makes the police bad are bad police. The law has to be the same law for everybody."

Tuesday night's speech was part of Sharpton's Convoy Against Racism, a national tour that began June 1 in New York. He arrived at Shreveport Regional Airport about 5 p.m.

Sharpton, sporting a charcoal-gray suit, dark tie and blue shirt, sprinkled his 39-minute speech with humor. He was charismatic, personable and funny yet passionate about the themes of the night - justice and equality.

"No one wearing a badge has the right to become the jury, judge and prosecutor," he said. Two city marshals flanked the podium. "I'm going to be a part of this struggle as long as you need us to be."

Sharpton's speech also made brief reference to a possible economic boycott led by the state chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. No timetable was given for the boycott that would target the city's gaming riverboats and downtown riverfront district "until people understand we will not spend our money when we are afraid of the cops and of the robbers," Sharpton said.

A little more than an hour earlier, Sharpton's convoy carried him to the convenience store parking lot at Midway Street at Hearne Avenue where Hudspeth was killed by Shreveport police who mistook a cellular telephone he pointed at them for a handgun. Hudspeth was shot eight times in the back. Even though the officers' actions were deemed justifiable by Caddo District Attorney Paul Carmouche, the shooting remains under investigation by the FBI and U.S. Justice Department.

In the lot where the shooting occurred, Sharpton talked with local black ministers who have led the charge against the controversial shooting. Pastors and those involved Tuesday repeatedly declined to comment about Sharpton's visit.

Analysts and historians, however, have said bringing in an outside speaker is a way to re-energize the debate, which has split the city largely along racial lines.

Sharpton pointedly addressed that issue.

"That's a strange question in Shreveport when you're asking outsiders to come gamble at your casinos. Since I'm fighting for justice, people want me to explain why I'm here."

Sharpton called for a "thorough and fair" investigation into Hudspeth's death. It's the only way to "reconcile a community," he said.

"It undermines everyone when children are afraid of cops and robbers. We cannot have people using deadly force based on their imagination."

Sharpton was flanked by a half dozen members of the media and an entourage of local ministers, his personal videographer, a handful of personal staffers and four or five pedestrians. He said his staff reviewed videotapes of the shooting that were culled from cameras mounted in police patrol cars.

"It was a very outrageous type situation. A man lost his life. By all accounts, he had no weapon and committed no crime."

Sharpton, a Pentecostal minister, political and civil rights activist, has built a national following - good and bad - from his outspokenness on issues such as the targeting of racial minorities by police and vocal demands for social, economical and political justice.

"God has always been on the side of the oppressed."

At Lake Bethlehem Baptist, the parking lot filled to capacity more than an hour before Sharpton's expected arrival. An overflow of cars was directed to park at Shreve Memorial Library's David Raines branch across the street and at a nearby day care. Cars also lined the curb in the 2800 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

Early arrivals hovered in the shade beneath the church's awnings to escape the evening sun's glare. Lake Bethlehem Baptist's doors opened just before 6 p.m. Audience members were screened for security by Shreveport city marshals as they entered. The sanctuary was a standing-room-only crowd of about 800 people. Mayor Keith Hightower was seated in the front row.

An overflow of about 200 people crowded fellowship hall, where they watched the two-hour event on television screens. Others were turned away about 15 minutes prior to the start of the program.

"This is my busiest night as an usher," said Eddie Maxie, 74, who has attended the church 19 years and served 15 years as an usher. Tuesday is Lake Bethlehem Baptist's regular midweek meeting night. "There might have been a larger crowd at some funerals, but I think this is the biggest crowd ever."

Event programs issued as people flooded through the doors of the sanctuary included comments from four local speakers, music and an offering before Sharpton took the lectern.

The Rev. Timothy Jones, pastor of Peaceful Rest Baptist Church in Shreveport, talked about the Inter-Denomination Ministerial Action Coalition, which sponsored Sharpton's visit. The group consists of local black ministers and area activists.

"We're men of God. We're representatives of the people of God," Jones said. "We're conscionable citizens standing in criticism of a sin-infected city."

The Rev. Dennis Everett, pastor of Lake Bethlehem Baptist, spoke briefly about equality. "I'm tired of asking people for something I already possess."

"We back the badge. We're not against police; we're against rogue cops," said the Rev. Melvin Smith, pastor at St. Mark Baptist Church in Shreveport.

Sharpton was escorted from Lake Bethlehem Baptist to catch a plane.

The evening concluded with closing remarks by the Rev. Artis Cash, pastor of Shreveport Christian Church.

"Here is what we want," said Cash. Then referring to the group's agenda, he spoke of a possible boycott of white businesses. He said the coalition wants the officers involved in Hudspeth's shooting to be placed on administrative leave, it wants Police Chief Jim Roberts removed from office or to resign, and it wants a citizens review program with power to subpoena evidence. The boycott would target downtown gaming boats and the riverfront district, Cash said.

Cash also told the audience to "get ready" because the Rev. Jesse Jackson also is being invited to Shreveport. No date was announced.

The night marked a change for Shreveport, said Ruby Mae Ealy, 53, of the Queensborough neighborhood.

"I have heard the truth tonight if I never hear it again. Tonight, the black leaders of our community, our black ministers, have come together and taken over the role of our city officials. These are our true city officials.

"They aren't seeking justice only for the blacks but for all citizens," she said. "Justice will never be served until we come together as human beings, regardless of race, age or sex."