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Faith

Obama’s Inaugural Invocation Pick Breaks With 200+ Years of American Tradition

Jan. 8, 2013 12:35pm Billy Hallowell

President Barack Obama has selected Myrlie Evers-Williams to deliver the invocation at his public swearing-in on Jan. 21. Evers-Williams is the wife of Medgar Evers — a civil rights icon who was murdered in 1963. According to The Washington Post, it is apparently the first time that a woman has been selected to deliver the coveted prayer.

Additionally, it is also purportedly the first time that someone who is not an official clergy person has been chosen for the presidential invocation, which is slated to be delivered at the beginning of the event.

Obama Selects Myrlie Evers Williams Pastor Louie Giglio for Inauguration

Myrlie Evers-Williams (Photo Credit: AP)

Biography.com has more about Evers-Williams’ background:

After her husband’s murder, Evers-Williams fought hard to see his killer brought to justice. Although [his killer, a white supremacist named Byron De La Beckwith] was arrested and brought to trial on murder charges, two all-white juries could not reach a verdict in the case. It would take approximately 30 years for justice to be served, with Williams-Evers keeping the case alive and pushing for Beckwith to pay for his crime. Her efforts were not in vain. In the early 1990s, Beckwith was again arrested and later convicted by a multi-racial jury.

Besides her quest for justice, Evers-Williams rebuilt her life after her husband’s death. She moved with her children to California and emerged as a civil rights activist in her own right. Evers-Williams spoke on behalf of the NAACP and wrote For Us, the Living, which chronicled her late husband’s life and work in 1967. She also made an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Congress in 1970.

President Barack Obama speaks during an event in the East Room of the White House January 7, 2013 in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images

In addition to the aforementioned information about her life, Evers-Williams’ has led a successful career as a writer and activist, starting her own organization, the Medgar Evers Institute, and working diligently to keep her husband’s memory alive (read more about her here).

In an official statement put out by Obama’s Presidential Inaugural Committee, she expressed her excitement in being asked to be a part of the festivities. “It is indeed an exhilarating experience to have the distinct honor of representing” [the civil rights era at the event],” she is quoted as saying.

Pastor Louie Giglio (Photo Credit: 268Generation.com)

The activist will be joined at the public ceremony by conservative evangelical Louie Giglio, the founder of the popular Passion conferences and the pastor at Atlanta’s Passion City Church. While it may seem odd that Obama has selected someone who is described as right-of-center, theologically-speaking, the Post has more about the reasons for the faith leader’s inclusion:

An inaugural official said Giglio was picked for the benediction in part because of his work raising awareness about modern-day slavery and human trafficking. Those were core issues at his most recent conference, Passion 2013, attended by more than 60,000 mostly young evangelicals in Atlanta.

“During these days it is essential for our nation to stand together as one,” Giglio said in a statement. “And, as always, it is the right time to humble ourselves before our Maker.”

In 2008, Obama selected Rick Warren, the popular pastor who penned, “The Purpose-Driven Life,” to deliver the invocation. This, too, struck some as an odd choice, particularly considering that Warren opposes gay marriage. His inclusion was seen as an affront to gay activists and progressives at the time.

The move to include both Evers-Williams and Giglio this year is seen by some as an effort to bridge divides. Considering the administration’s continued battle with conservative religious groups over the contraceptive mandate, among other policy stances, it’s quite possible that the selection was made in an effort to bring all parties to the table.

(H/T: Washington Post)

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Comments (336)

Solidspine
Posted on January 10, 2013 at 12:23am
It does not matter,

it is all over, what we had is now gone,

just look, a fly on **** is no worse then a ****** in the white house,

of course this will not appear hear or appear anywhere why because America is history, is is gone,

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- ALLEGIANCE
  Posted on January 10, 2013 at 10:55am
  I was going to say that you should stop being ridiculous, but on second thought, who am I to stop you from sounding ignorant. History is just that history. You cannot erase history. You can add to it, but once it is stamped it is a done deal. I just do not understand why this is even a story on the Blaze. Someone below posted a link about the new enrollment of the Ku Klux Klan in Virginia. I wonder why Glenn’s folk didn’t feel the need to post that story. Is it possibly because it would go against their false ideology that all Republicans are Christians who love all. I am so appalled at the people on this website. I just finished reading a story about a bunch of Black students fighting and of the comments that I read 98% of them were racist as usual. It never cease to amaze me how the Blaze allows such racism on their site. I assume it is because they are so angry at the fact that Barack won again, that they now allow anything and everything racist towards Black people. If any of you think am exaggerating, go to that story now and you let me know if I am overreacting or not. it is preposterous how most White Republicans behave. You will see a change in the behavior when the next White president is elected. I am so sick to my stomach after reading a lot of posts in THIS story as well.
  
  Report this comment
1GirlUSA
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 5:35pm
The ole’ “official clergy person ” PROBLEM again………which, of course, has been and will continue to “haunt” him until his last day in office. At that time he will go back to his ” *od Damn America” preacher. What a screwed up guy he is.

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watashbuddyfriend
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 4:28pm
A meaningless prayer does not get above the ceiling!

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UNBOTHERED
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 4:23pm
By the way, this is for all of the RACISTS on this site. ust in case you are ever in the state of VA.

http://rawstory.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=80b42ecc21f29763320aceb90&id=1a56cea0ed&e=d1b55ae564

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UNBOTHERED
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 4:21pm
ZAPPARULES, where have you been. OMG, you are such an excellent representative for HUMAN BEINGS. I am so glad I logged on today. I am going to FACE BOOK tonight and let everyone know just how impressed I am with your intelligence, your grace and most importantly your spirit. Please keep up the great work. I don’t know how old you are or if you are male or female, but I wish i had as much patience as you do with these demons on this site. Maybe my youth is the issue. But I am just so d@am allergice to RACISTS. I cannot stand the ground they walk on. I love hite people and I love Black People, Hispanics and Asians. And I want to vomit, when I see people hating because of race.

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bolsen00
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 2:47pm
This story doesn’t surprise me at all…it’s ALL about his blackness. He has such an inferiority complex about being black, just like millions of other blacks…they just don’t believe that they are good enough, so they try to build themselves up by thrusting blacks in front of cameras so that maybe they will look better than they feel…but they don’t even believe they look good. Obama needs to forget about taking away guns, and start dealing with black mental health issues they just keep passing to their kids, perpetuating low self esteem.

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- zapparules
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 3:13pm
  Ahhhhh… Another person blessed with the white man’s burden.
  
  I suppose you have been professional trained in such an analysis – because your analysis just reeks of pure professionalism. You MUST have studied at one of the finest schools.
  Can I ask where?
  And what with such an astute evaluation… You also must have years of experience working around such folks.
  I hope you are well paid for your great efforts to help others with their self esteem issues.
  But maybe you just volunteer to share your brilliance.
  You are indeed a great man (or woman – because there is that hint of feminism to your comments. Sorry – I just can’t tell.)
  
  Report this comment
- UNBOTHERED
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 4:09pm
  @BOLSENOO
  
  You are such a comedian. You act like you are God, that you know what Black people feel about themselves and their self worth. RACIST MUCH?? My bestfriend is a Black professor at Seton hall University. His brother has been on the dean’s list for all three semesters, mind you he walked 10 miles to high school all four years. Graduated Salutatorian and received a full Academic scholarship to Seton as well as NJIT in NJ. Black people are no different than White People in that there are lazy Whites and Lazy Blacks. Intelligent Whites and Intelligent Blacks. Criminal whites and blacks. Your post is so incredibly juvenile and predjudice. Like I said in my previous post, just because you are not wearing a white sheet over your head and burning crosses, does not mean you are not a racist, RACIST.
  
  Report this comment
Matt
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:59pm
I am actually really surprised that a woman has never done it before. How did no previous president jump on that obvious PR stunt?

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- zapparules
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 2:11pm
  Why would you consider it a stunt?
  Do not women warrant equal merit at such events?
  
  Report this comment
- DMONIC
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 2:39pm
  Again, Zapa, your ignorance shows no bounds. Typical liberal trying to twist words. Please- go back to your abortion clinic and celebrate another death and leave us in peace.
  
  Report this comment
- zapparules
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 2:51pm
  What words have I twisted?
  I am not the one that called the asking of a women to give an invocation a stunt.
  I simply asked a question – asking Matt why HE thought it was a stunt.
  Just because someone has nover done such before – and now someone comes along and does it… Why would one consider that a stunt?
  
  Does MATT perhaps think a women should not be allowed to do such.
  Maybe MATT feels this particular women should not be allowed to do such – or because it is this particular woman THAT is what makes this a stunt.
  I would just like some clarification.
  —-
  And oh, by the way…
  Abortion is wrong.
  Let’s work together to seek alternatives to such.
  Like gun violence… The ‘problem’ will not be solved overnight – a solution will not come quickly or easily – or without compromise and a cost.
  
  Report this comment
- UNBOTHERED
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 4:15pm
  @ZAPPARULES
  
  You are too kind to these racists. I agree with you 100%. And it is not about the woman, it is about the BLACK man who wanted to woman to speak. Had McCain or any other Republican ORRRRRRR a White democrat had asked Mrs Evers, this would not be a story on The Blaze at all. Zap, keep doing what you are doing. I can feel your good spirit through your posts and I ask that God continues to bless you and keep your heart available to him. The rest of you people, I can only hope that you allow God to move for a change. I mean it is 2013 ISN’T IT?
  
  Report this comment
neverending
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:54pm
He should just have all those evangelicals and all the rest that stayed home “to prove a point” all gather around the celebration afterall pretty obvious those stupid clowns helped put this sorry sob back in for four more years – just wish only they had to pay the price but sadly we all have to go through this hell on earth.

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thewhiteright
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:26pm
‎70 million gun owning FREE MEN will not simply turn in there firearms and turn their backs on freedom. The signal for the start of this country’s new civil war will be at the hand of the person that give orders to march against the FREE MAN. With the first gun taken from any one of us, I pray for God save your soul, because 69,999,999 firearm carrying freedom fighters will come to rescue our brother/sister and restore their freedom.

Leftist Communist, if you haven’t noticed all firearms have left the shelves and all of the ammo is ready at hand. Go ahead and march against The LOVER OF FREEDOM “THE AMERICAN” It will be a wonderful thing to wake up the next morning and not be sharing American air with you traitors.

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- zapparules
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 2:14pm
  Little bitter?
  Sorry to burst your revolutionary bubble but… NO ONE is taking anyone’s gun away.
  
  But please… Keep buying those guns that you can and firing all the ammo you can.
  The economy still needs your help.
  Keep up the great work.
  
  Report this comment
- DMONIC
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 2:37pm
  Zapa- you are quite the moronic sheep with blinders on. We know you dont care about the 2nd Amendment, or any other part of the Constitution, so please- go troll somewhere else. Or perhaps you are looking forward to the shackles that your “Dear Leader” will put upon you?
  
  In any event, what is absolutely clear is that this prez is a fraud and has completely taken Christianity and spirituality out of the equation now… WTF else do people need to see this imposter for what he is- a MUSLIM. And I aint no bible bangin’, God Fearing man, neither. Its tradition yet he bucks it EVERY single chance he gets. Remember his “wedding ring”? He was wearing it before he even met that cow for a 1st lady….
  
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- zapparules
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 3:05pm
  Aint you the classy, intelligent fellow DMONIC?
  Throwing out verbal insults with such ease.
  
  Care to have a discussion about the 2nd Amendment?
  Is any amendment ABSOLUTE?
  1st A.: Are you allowed to yell “Fire” in a theater?
  So is the 2nd absolute? Are citizens allowed to keep and bear ANY TYPE and AMOUNT of arms they care to?
  We have limits on the 2nd now – don’t we?
  Do you believe those limits are abridging your 2nd A Rights?
  Do you believe we can own whatever type and amount of ‘arms’ we like?
  Where does that absurd, limitless ‘freedom’ take us?
  Do citizens have the right to bear (current) militay grade arms?
  Define “arms” for me.
  What foresight did our forefathers have when they thought of ‘arms’? Do you think they could have foreseen the massive advances in such weapons? Do you think any of them foresaw us having weapons where 1 person now would have the firepower equavilent to perhaps hundreds back then?
  
  You do know that it would be against the tenets of a Muslim to attend Christian services (on a regular basis) – as Obama has now done for many, many years.
  What ‘makes’ someone a Christian? Their words? Their actions?
  What makes someone a Muslim?
  What specifically has Obama done that proves to you that he is a Muslim?
  
  So you aint no god-fearing man.
  Great!
  Apparently you aint much of anything else either.
  
  Report this comment
BigBadBob2490
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 12:08pm
Sam Adelson dropped a few million dollars trying to beat The Dark Prince, (a Muslim apostate and hypocrite who despises all things white, Christian and self-sufficient), so let’s all meet-up at the Venetian Palazzo Las Vegas on Inaugural weekend to avoid viewing the most insufferable day in American Presidential history.

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calebjim
Posted on January 9, 2013 at 11:36am
I am not at all suprised at his selection. His problem is living in the past and his trying to correct the past. I, for one, am totally fed up with this Obama character!

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- zapparules
  Posted on January 9, 2013 at 2:22pm
  So you’re not surprised at his selection.
  Just what does that mean?
  
  Frankly… If he was living in the past he would have just gone with what was done in the past – have yet another man deliver the invocation.
  Do you have a problem with a women performing this function?
  Do you have a problem with THIS particular woman perfroming this function?
  According to you… Just what might Obama be trying to correct with this selection?
  
  Report this comment

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