Former Obama Pastor Delivers Speech At Local Church
LIBERTY CITY (CBS4) – The controversial former pastor to President Barack Obama was in Liberty City Sunday to speak to a church during Amistad Sunday, a day set aside to mark the struggle of intended slaves against one slave ship's crew.
The Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. spoke at the Church of the Open Door, United Church of Christ where the Rev. R. Joaquin Willis is pastor.
The United Church of Christ played a role in the defense of the captive Africans who revolted on the ship La Amistad in July of 1839. The ship had been carrying slaves intended for the plantations of Cuba.
Wright served as senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago for 36 years. President Obama was a member of his congregation for some time.
Wright became known to a larger range of Americans after he made controversial remarks about the World Trade Center attacks and what he said is the unequal relationship between black and whites in the United States.
Video clips of his sermons caused a stir during Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.
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