The Cowardly El Cajon Police and the Pompeo Rapture Rally
Sunday’s “We Are Israel” rally at El Cajon’s Prescott Promenade was supposed to be about bringing Christians and Jews together to fight anti-Semitism. Trust me, it wasn’t.
According to media accounts, about 500 people attended the rally.
Near the rally, there were about 200 people protesting. While El Cajon has no synagogues, it is home to a large Arab-American and muslim population. For those residents, an event where opposing Israeli policies was equated with antisemitism was a provocation.
“It was made up to silence any voices against Israel,” said Juliana Musheyed, a pro-Palestinian protester. “It’s a very useful tool for people to shut people up and say ‘you’re being antisemitic’ and it’s wrong. I believe that as a Jew.”
Standing between the protestors as they marched in the direction of the Promenade were El Cajon police, outfitted with the finest tactical gear defense department money can buy.
The cops didn’t have to do much of anything, because interposed between them and the protestors was a collection of right wing thugs. They did all the work, shouting provocations and getting into fights with assorted "antifa" hangers on until the marchers retreated.
And the bruisers got free parking in the ECPD parking lot.
https://twitter.com/nicole_chenelle/status/1419489788118196226?s=20
There was a heavy police presence near the Prescott Promenade, but no officers were seen during the fight nearby or when pepper spray was deployed.
El Cajon police said that as they were coordinating a response to the fighting, the crowd dispersed and the fighting stopped.
The right wing fight squad included ‘American Guard’ leader, Kristopher Wyrick, Mike Forzano of Exiled Patriots, and Demetri James Wilhelm of Defend East County, all identified from photographs taken at the scene.
Following disclosure of the events on Sunday, people associated with organizing the rally told the Union-Tribune that they didn't meet or coordinate with the right wingers. The El Cajon Police denied an allegation about allowing their parking lot to be used by the group.
Meh. Something WAS going on.
https://twitter.com/TheActivatedPod/status/1419872097145221122?s=20
Now, back to the We Are Israel rally.
This was a rally to bring together religious right wing activists in support of people running for office (or considering it). The headliners were politicians; the supporting cast were beating drums for causes they all support.
For starters, only certain kinds of Christians were involved, namely those associated with evangelical congregations whose concept of religion is heavily influenced by passages from the Old Testament that appear to address contemporary concerns.
Many rally attendees sported political paraphernalia, including American flags, Israeli flags, Trump flags, “thin blue line” police flags, “Recall Newsom” signs, National Rifle Association T-shirts, and Make America Great Again-style hats.
When asked why they came to the rally, several attendees’ first answer was not about protesting antisemitism, but supporting other political causes they believed in.
There is a strain of evangelicalism that believes the creation of the state of Israel is part of a prophecy of the rapture, as a key element in events leading up to the ascent of good Christians into the kingdom of God.
The point of the rapture is that it’s The End. Those considered righteous will survive, the rest not so much. The “wink, wink” rest of us aren’t giving our money to the likes of Joel Osteen or Kenneth Copeland. And we’re doomed, although that part of the deal is avoided in polite society.
The featured speaker at this rally was Mike Pompeo, who just happens to be
Running for president
A big believer in the Rapture
Here’s a clue, via the New York Times:
Mr. Trump’s decision in December 2017 to move the American Embassy was intended to please evangelical voters in the United States, as well as some Jews. Mr. Netanyahu has embraced evangelical support for his right-wing policies, and sees evangelicals as more reliable American allies of Israel than liberal American Jews.
An evangelical pastor, Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Dallas, gave an opening prayer at the embassy building’s dedication ceremony in May. His presence made many Israelis uncomfortable; he has said Jews, Muslims and Mormons are bound for hell. In 2017, during a conference call of Mr. Trump’s top evangelical supporters, Mr. Jeffress led a prayer for the protection of Mr. Pompeo, then C.I.A. director, and thanked God for putting him in the job.
https://twitter.com/brooklynmarie/status/1419374688225042432?s=20
Hey folks! Be sure to like/follow Words & Deeds on Facebook. If you’d like to have each post mailed to you check out the simple subscription form and the right side of the front page.
Email me at WritetoDougPorter@Gmail.com
Lead photo: Vishal P. Singh (They/He)@VPS_Reports·19h