US

School Board Member’s Gun Permit Yanked for Making Threat After MLK Day Dispute

A Greeley, CO school board member and radio station owner has come under fire for airing an editorial denouncing Martin Luther King Jr Day. And now, his concealed weapon permit has been yanked after he threatened a rival station owner to a “shootout.”

Brett Reese is airing the controversial editorial four times daily — up from two — on his station KELS-FM 104.7. He is unapologetic that portions of the editorial that call King a “plastic god,“ a ”sexual degenerate,“ and ”an America hating communist” appear verbatim on a website with links to a white supremacist group.

But those statement aren’t the only inflammatory remarks allegedly coming from Resse. Local law enforcement had to step in during an economic war of sorts between Resse and a rival — a war which allegedly led to a threatening phone call.

According to the Denver Post, Resse threatened KFKA-AM 1310 owner Justin Sasso on Wednesday with a “shootout” (via a phone message) if Sasso‘s advertising reps didn’t stop calling businesses that support Reese’s station.

That prompted Sasso to file a restraining order, which then led to the suspension of Resse’s permit on Thursday. The permit suspension is not surprising in Colorado — restraining orders are grounds for denial of a permit — and the suspension only lasts until a January 21 court appearance determines if it becomes permanent.

Additionally, the local deputy who served Resse with the restraining order and confiscated his permit told Reese he could continue to carry his weapon, just not concealed. Resse, however, told the local Greely Tribune that he refuses to carry his weapon without the permit. He also dismissed the restraining order as a publicity stunt by his radio rival.

“People in this town know who he is and what he is,” Reese said about Sasso, moments after receiving the order. “He just wants to be in on the little bit of the publicity because his ratings are so far in the toilet.”

Regarding his MLK statements, Reese said “Facts are facts, truth is truth,” adding that he might pre-empt other programing to air the editorial round the clock. The 40-year-old former carpenter claims he helped build houses for Habitat for Humanity in the Mississippi Delta and once dated an African American woman. He insists he’s not racist: “I distance myself from that.”

The Mountain States Anti-Defamation League has asked Reese to stop broadcasting the editorial. The school board passed a resolution last week supporting the holiday and calling the editorial “inflammatory and detrimental to our district and community.” The vote came after Reese walked out of the meeting.

“Timed as they are, Mr. Reese’s words demean the existence of the Martin Luther King Holiday and its honoring of not just Reverend King but of his messages of equal rights, peaceful demonstration, civility and respect,” the board said in its resolution.

Mayor Tom Norton, a former state legislator, said Reese‘s views don’t represent Greeley, which holds an annual MLK Day March and celebration.

“I find it difficult to figure out where he’s coming from,” Norton said.

Reese said some advertisers have departed the low-power FM station, which he has owned since 2000, over the editorial. But he said he is financially able to survive indefinitely without sponsors. He said he’s received death threats.

He also said that he’s not trying to become a lightning rod for debate over the holiday, which was controversial in some states at its inception. “That’s not what my push is. I think it’s important for people to discuss any issue openly, freely and without being assassinated or bankrupted.”

He’s an elected member of the Greeley-Evans School District 6 board since 2009. Last week, the school board passed a resolution denouncing Reese’s radio editorial:

Reese had aired the editorial, which he said was sent to the station in an anonymous letter, in relative obscurity for the past three Januarys.

Greeley, about 60 miles north of Denver is nestled in the center of mostly agricultural Weld County and has a large meatpacking plant, JBS Swift & Co., which was hit in a 2006 federal raid targeting illegal immigrant workers.

“It’s a very conservative town,” said Ceta Mercadal, 21, a sociology and Africana studies major at the University of Northern Colorado, who grew up in New Orleans and is African American. “When I first got here, I felt like I was one of a kind.”

Many of the claims in Reese’s editorial were spun out of FBI efforts in the 1960s to discredit King, including charges of marital infidelities.

“It’s hurtful and totally unnecessary,” said Sabrina Harms, 17, a senior at Greeley West High School, one of four high schools in the district. “Thank you for sharing the information but I think that Martin Luther King’s accomplishments stand as they are.”

Bryan Wright, the only African American principal in the district, sees a learning experience for students in the editorial slamming King.

“To assume somebody is perfect because they’re famous is misleading,” Wright said. “What makes us special is that we’re allowed to do something great despite our shortcomings.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Comments (77)

1 2
  • TennesseeConservative
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 11:21am

    History speaks for itself. Anyone who places a person on a pedestal black or white, has not learned what history teaches. We are all sinners. Worship GOD not man, or mans ideas of GOD.

    Report Post » TennesseeConservative  
  • Anawynn13
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 11:02am

    Loss of recess??? rofl That’s a big issue for children? Wow.

    Report Post » Anawynn13  
  • artman
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 10:49am

    Then and now. Sharpston and Jackson were, supposedly, followers of King. But look how THEY turned out! It is legitimate to lend the possibility that King would have also turned out to be a race hustler like the other two had he lived. Fact is, we will never, ever see the end of racial tension and claims of rampant racism toward minorities for now it represents political power. Those who gain their power from it will never relinquish it. The claim of institutional racism will never be allowed to die as long as one instance of racism can ever be shown.

    Can anyone image Sharpston, Obama, Clinton and Jackson finding a magic lamp where the genie granted them ONE wish? It would not be to make racism non existent as that would represent the demise of the Democrat party and their power. They would wish that the Democrat Party would be given the power to make it “right”. That, course, would be to give them even more power.

    Report Post »  
  • Cabo King
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 10:17am

    iam going to target, to purchase some ammo, and some targets

    Report Post » Cabo King  
  • rappini
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:41am

    Can one of you brain surgeons in Colorado tell me why it was ok to Bash Bush and not MLK? And I don’t want to hear anything about skin color.

    Report Post » rappini  
  • BrerRabbit
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:25am

    REL’s birthday is Jan. 19th not the 17th. Deo Vindice

    Report Post »  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:19am

    Investigate, investigate, investigate. Do your own homework. Look up documents (if they still can be found). Do NOT trust the media any longer. I must admit I was very surprised by Glenn Beck’s take on MLK. As a very young adult in the mid and late 60′s, a peace-loving MLK is not what I saw. But, then, I, too, was believing what I saw and heard on the news daily. It wasn’t pretty. It was scary. I do admire Dr. King’s niece, however. Now, there is a woman of great courage from what I’ve learned of her.

    Report Post »  
    • LibertyOrDeath
      Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:57am

      I agree. Glenn says to do your own homework and one should about King. I think he didn’t want to focus on the scars of MLK.

      Abe Lincoln is another guy that one should do their own homework on. I scratch my head thinking why Glenn would focus on him, as Lincoln gained huge Federal powers and did some nasty stuff during and after the war. He could have easily bought off the south to free the slaves, but instead he choose a bloody war. In turn, the war was more about Federal power than the freeing people.

      It’s a shame, because in my naive youth I really admired Lincoln. However, this goes to show that we should never trust any politician, as power corrupts.

      Glenn and his staff, if you’re reading: I know Media Matters takes things completely out of context and will hammer you all day long. However, if the truth has no agenda, please share the complete history of MLK and Lincoln and not just the parts we should admire. At the same time, you can share the message that we “We focus too much on the scars” (and I agree).

      “The truth will set you free…but it will make you miserable first”

       
  • Lion420
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:18am

    Wow…how wrong can one gut be? America hating communist? Last I heard MLK was a registered republican…besides, what black man in the 50‘s and 60’s could be a democrat? Key members involved with the KKK and standing against the Civil rights act…yet the ‘prevailing wisdom’ would say that the repubs were always the racists.

    Report Post » Lion420  
    • awizard
      Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:54am

      What “Prevailing wisdom?” … this guys wrong, but he has a “Right to be wrong” …You are just wrong, the democrats have always been “The Racists”.

      Report Post » awizard  
    • dontbotherme
      Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:49pm

      Lion420 – Don’t look to prevailing wisdom…. The democrats were the members of the KKK. The democrats were against destroying slavery. Republicans fought for freedom. Look for the truth. Look for older History books that were written prior to socialism.

      Report Post »  
  • Ron_WA
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:17am

    Appears this guy is over the top. Glad they got him before he went postal. He appears to be a loon.

    Report Post » Ron_WA  
  • sarg356
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:16am

    The article states that his evdience is based on FBI charges. Interesting…. What is the truth? Was the FBI lying? I don’t know how it was back in that day. I know that I wouldn‘t put it past the gov’t today.

    Report Post »  
  • jagr1850
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:13am

    investigate mlk and see where the truth really is……this guy has atleast a 50 percent chance of sharing the correct information…………………….

    Report Post » jagr1850  
  • Patriot
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:11am

    His opinions are welcome, just because I may not agree with them is no reason for him to be at risk of persecution for airing them. Only people unsure of the righteousness of their views seek to silence others. Taking away the opportunity to hear opposing views is tyranny. This article should at least link to his editorial to give those of us with an open mind to decide for ourselves. MLK was a great man, but if someone has valid criticism, I’ll listen and decide for myself.

     
    • ottodiedacktick
      Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:51am

      @PATRIOT

      Yo, this is Yo Mick. I agri wid da white brotha’ exeptin one ting. Hee says hee had a sista foh a garlfrind. Hees just like dat LePage usin’ black peepol as racial sheelds, dats just rong.

       
    • cykonas
      Posted on January 17, 2011 at 10:42am

      Well said Patriot. I‘ll just add that every radio I’ve ever had, or seen, came equipped with a knob, or a button, or a dial, or something that allowed me to change the station if I didn’t want to hear what was on. Maybe the radios in Colorado are different??

      Report Post » cykonas  
  • nzkiwi
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:08am

    I don’t know how else to draw your attention to this. While the commentators are discussing other news items, no-one is paying attention to this.

    http://atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com/atlas_shrugs/2010/11/stop-muslim-persecution-and-wholesale-slaughter-of-christians-in-iraq.html

    Sorry if I’ve ruined your day.

    Report Post »  
    • Ghandi was a Republican
      Posted on January 17, 2011 at 1:25pm

      These radical Muslims will not stop till they get their Armageddon.
      What bleeding heart liberals do not understand (or DO understand as obama surely does) – One man‘s Armageddon is another’s 72 Virgins in paradise..

      One man’s Anti-Christ is another’s 12th Imam. It’s that simple, and that dire!

      Report Post » Ghandi was a Republican  
  • Alvin691
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:07am

    King was about pease and equal justice. Of all the people to target. Thanks for giving the Left another target for their narrative :(

    Report Post »  
    • awizard
      Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:48am

      Careful Alvin … you said “Target” … now their gonna get you.

      Report Post » awizard  
  • Rickfromillinois
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:05am

    This is a guy who really is spewing hate, and not just against MLK. I don’t care if he is Right or Left, it sounds as though he is close to losing control and he definitely should not have a concealed carry permit if he threatens other people.

    Report Post » Rickfromillinois  
  • Helldogger
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:05am

    Hannity invites people to “shoot outs” all the time.

    Report Post » Helldogger  
  • NeoKong
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:00am

    Uh hoh crikey…
    Don’t go there.

    Report Post » NeoKong  
  • OKMatt
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:00am

    King was a good man in many ways. He was no Saint to be sure. The only problems I have with the holiday is that the Imperial Fed Government forced it on the States. And, that it should be “Civil Rights Day” a day to celebrate ALL who worked hard and sacrificed to end institutionalized racial discrimination. Canonizing ML king was a mistake and the TRUTH should be told about his whole character. Just like the pre-founder ( his name just escaped me) who preach individual liberty but, unfortunately was pro slavery. Let the TRUTH be told.

    Report Post »  
    • demint.disciple
      Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:49am

      LMAO, someone here looking for attention and not one reply.. Must be just itching th crap out of him…I get a kick out of it..

      Report Post » one years food ration like glenn says  
    • Liberal Joe
      Posted on January 17, 2011 at 11:41am

      OTTI, you don’t get a prize for making the most posts in this thread.

      Report Post » Liberal Joe  
    • ottodiedacktick
      Posted on January 17, 2011 at 12:43pm

      @LIBERALJOE

      Is you ralated too Injun Joe? I’se tryen too haves n entellegent convisatien ’cause dis is a seerios topik an’ I tinks peeple taykes thimselfs too seerioslee. We cans talks ’bout rayce an‘ still laffs an’ hava goode tyme, ya otta tryit.

       
    • ottodiedacktick
      Posted on January 17, 2011 at 12:52pm

      @LIBERALJOE

      Yo, this is Yo Mick. Is dat yur reel naim? ‘Cause sumone putts a pikture of dat Mrs. Sarah nix to yur naim, Imma mad at Mrs. Sarah ’cause I hads a tee potty on saterdey for celibratin‘ Martins burthdey butt she don’ shoe up, agin! Yu nat Mrs. Sarah ar yu, ’cause if yu is, than I’se sarry, butt if yu nat, than Imma mad at yu fo’ nat comeing too da tee potty, Glinn too!

       
  • NickDeringer
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 8:58am

    I grew up in the 60s watching MLK. If nothing else he kept the country from turning into gun battles in the street. Malcolm X wanted violence, MLK wanted Civil Rights won through peaceful means. For that I think we should be very, very grateful.

    Report Post » NickDeringer  
    • JimOhio
      Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:37am

      I was a teen in the 60′s and remember my Dad making comments how MLK would come into a city and give a speech and after he left the news would be filled with stories of looting and burning from unrest. Dad died in 1975 and I often wonder what he’d think of the world today.

      Report Post »  
    • Buck Bagaw
      Posted on January 17, 2011 at 10:22am

      You have a very selective memory there Nick. If a municipality did not agree (give in) to King’s demands there was often unrest (can you say riot) within the week after he left town. Jesse Jackson didn’t learn his craft from any book, he observed first hand how it is done. The Civil Rights Movement (a noble and necessary endeavor) was looking for a hero, just happens they chose the one with the most visibility, not necessarily the most heroic.

      Report Post »  
    • GOTT-EM-MAUSER
      Posted on January 17, 2011 at 11:19am

      Well I grew up in the 60s, right smack dab in the middle of the “Black Community”. MLK was just another useful idiot financed and supported by the Communists in this country. Nobody wants anything “released” by way of intel, not so much to protect MLK or the Civil Rights Movement, but to PROTECT the Money folks that brought it about and made it all possible. They are our SACRED COWS that cannot be exposed for who and what they really are. Since they also control our Monetary System, Press, Entertainment Industry, Education System, Relegious Institutions, and virtually the entire Government, little wonder that they were the ones pulling the strings on their MLK Puppet.

      It is so very interesting that since all the time has passed now, these very “Benefactors” are the Arch Enemies of many Black Leaders. And the Black Community has begun to figure out that they have been “Had”, once again, used as the Disposable Pawns, to be sacraficed on the Communist Altar for the “Good of the Movement”. They are slated to serve as the “Tip of the Spear” in the coming Communist thrust. For all the promises and high hopes of the Movement, the Black Community is now in far worse shape than it ever was. You have to give the Tribe of Soros credit, they NEVER FAIL to get exactly what they want.

      The ONLY THING MLK and all of his efforts have achieved, is to POSTPONE the INEVITABLE. The current crop of “Useful Black Idiots” from the White House on down, are working 24/7s to bring about the “Confrontation” that SOROS TRIBE so desperately NEEDS to usher in their “NEW WORLD ORDER”. And it is coming. It will be most interesting to see just how well it works out for them, once the Fertilizer does indeed impact the Hi Speed Air Foil.

      Two CONSTANTS of Human Warfare:

      NO PLAN EVER SURVIVES FIRST CONTACT.

      HE WHO HAS THE GREATEST “COMITMENT” WILL PREVAIL.

      Report Post »  
  • Navymommy
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 8:56am

    He can say whatever he wants, it doesn‘t mean anybody’s going to listen to him. It‘s against the law to threaten people and he’ll have his day in court. I remember back in the mid 70′s as a tween, driving to FL from NJ with my mother. We would always stop in Savannah for the night. When we would get up about 6am or so, and turn on the tv, the only shows on were the most vile, racist spew I had ever been subjected to. I was completely shocked and disgusted. I had never been exposed to anything like that before. You can believe we turned it off immediately and hauled tail out of there.

    Report Post » Navymommy  
  • sWampy
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 8:53am

    The “Black” leadership/heros/gods have always been a pretty unsavory bunch. It is really sad the number of streets and schools named after these unsavory characters and that our nations kids are continually taught lies about what wonderful peace loving people they were. Most of these guys were the muslims/Loughners of their time and the media treated them the same way they treat a muslim terrorists or Loughner today.

     
    • Buck Bagaw
      Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:59am

      Mega dittos, Swampy. Old fart that I am, I caught the MLK act in real time and know the truth, not the sanitized version that is spread around today. I just find it incredulous that a man whose mantra is “the truth will set you free” deifies this person (compares him to Christ and Ghandi ) without knowing (or admitting to) the whole story.

      Report Post »  
  • grandmaof5
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 8:52am

    Good! As for his accusation of “looking for attention”, it seems the only one getting attention from the press and the authorities, is Reese. I also think the school board needs to think about removing Reese from its board since it is apparent he is a distracton to the business of running the school system. Very sad he goes against the very things MLK stook for.

    Report Post »  
  • Hefsmaster
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 8:52am

    MLK died fighting for his rights. Pure shame.

    Report Post » Hefsmaster  
  • Justus39
    Posted on January 17, 2011 at 8:49am

    Why not settle this. Publish the FBI files that were covered up by the courts and read the book,“And The Wall Came Tumbling Down” by Ralph David Abernathy ,Kings right hand man.King like the Kennedy’s are built upon the Liberal Press and millionaires that look down their nose at poor people but like sheep we following along blindly.

    Report Post »  
    • ME
      Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:20am

      You are right. You have to believe the FBI was all in on a lie or that one man was a dirt bag. Seems like any other time everyone would say the man was a dirt bag and the FBI is right why not this time? MLK was watch closely and those files are not being released just like B.O.’s birth certificate is not being released use your brain, no one can say for sure why but clearly its not because they want the truth out. So many great men we could honor with a federal holiday but the only one is MLK that has his own federal holiday. MLK did not do more for this country then George Washington now did he?

      Report Post » ME  
    • snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
      Posted on January 17, 2011 at 9:54am

      @Me

      Understood. The FBI from the time of Hoover have a reputation for being used by the administrations as their own personal dirt-gathering forces; they hold onto anything of the least value, even nothing more than the mere suspision of some strange bahaviours and such. Even when found out to be all false and contrived, they still use it to be the truth or for disinformation campaigns.

      Such is the way of politics.

      http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • avenger
      Posted on January 17, 2011 at 5:26pm

      mlk was funded by the communist party with the intention of causing racial turmoil in the USA.This is what the feds are hiding…

      Report Post »  
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