Supporters Rally Around Burris

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Rev. Stephen J. Thurston (left), pastor of New Covenant MB Church and Rev. Albert Tyson, pastor of St. Stephen AME Church prayed for U.S. Senator Roland Burris (center) to keep his senate seat at Sunday evening service at New Covenant Baptist Church. Photo by Dwayne T. Ervin
Rev. Stephen J. Thurston (left), pastor of New Covenant MB Church and Rev. Albert Tyson, pastor of St. Stephen AME Church prayed for U.S. Senator Roland Burris (center) to keep his senate seat at Sunday evening service at New Covenant Baptist Church. Photo by Dwayne T. Ervin

by Dwayne T. Ervin

At an evening Sunday service at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, U.S. Senator Roland Burris told the congregation that he refuses to resign while at the same time, Rev. Stephen J. Thurston said he wants people to leave Burris family alone.

Congressman Bobby L. Rush (D-1), Rev. Thurston, Rev. Albert Tyson, Bishop Tavis Grant II, and other ministers and elected officials joined in their support of Burris. Burris sat in the pulpit with ministers during the service.

Rev. Thurston mentioned how Burris is carrying out the vision that President Barack Obama had when he served in the U.S. Senate. "We should pray for him as he continues to do his good work. We support him in response of allegations that have been made concerning him. We are committed to him. We believe that he is the right man in the right place." Rev. Albert Tyson, treasurer of West Side Ministers Coalition requested, "that the calls for his [Burris] resignation cease." He mentioned that it was not right for his family to be attacked.

Rev. Janette Wilson, general counsel for Broadcast Ministers Alliance Chicago, talked about the lack of respect for Burris as senator. "You are treating the U.S. Senator as if he committed a crime," she said. "We only have one seat [meaning African American] in the United States Senate. We understand what the power of that seat holds. We are not going to give that seat back and we are not going to force our senator to resign.

"Stop asking him to resign," she continued. "Ask him about senator matters. Ask him about the stimulus package and how it is going to benefit Illinoisprovide for the citizens of the state of Illinois."

"We see Senator Burris as a treasure," said Bishop Tavis Grant. He mentioned Burris uncorrupted record as Comptroller and Attorney General. "The same people who attacked John Stroger on his death bed are the same people who attack Todd Stroger. Many members of Illinois in Congress and the Senate do not have cameras following them. We are praying for his strength and mental ability of our senator," Grant said.

"I have not heard or seen this kind of outcry for resignation," Rush said. "I have seen senators [in reference of Ted Kennedy] who got drunk; drove off a bridge and people died, but heard no outcry for those senators to resign. Here is a man who did nothing wrong.

"Since Roland has been in office this past month, he has passed more bills than any other senator," Rush continued. "The state constitution works for him [Quinn] and it works for Roland."

Burris mentioned a bill he signed to make sure that the armed forces are equipped and have the best of services. "Last week we moved the stimulus package," he said. "This week the Senate passed the voting rights bill, which gave the District of Columbia the right to have a congressman in the United States Congress. There are 600,000 residents in DC, mostly African American, who do not have representation in the House or the Senate.

It is the duty of every democracy to make sure the residents are represented equally," he said.

Burris added that he cosponsored a bill to recognize slaves who built the White House. "I was proud that my fellow senators passed the bill quickly and swiftly to honor our forefathers who were slaves. We will place a plaque at the wall of the capital building so that residents and school children will fully understand their history," Burris added.

"We are going to pray for him, because prayer will fix it," Rev. Thurston said. "We will not let the devil rob us of his ability." In reference to some of the negative attention to Burris, Rev Thurston urged, "Get off his block. Leave his family alone."

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