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Discussion with Rev. Daniel Sparks
Aired August 27, 2003 - 09:44 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BRIAN CABELL, CNN ANCHOR: As you can see, people are out here, they are praying, they are chanting, they are cheering. We pulled aside with us one of the speakers just a few moments ago, Reverend Daniel Sparks.
Reverend Sparks, you've been out here since when?
REV. DANIEL SPARKS: I've been here since last Wednesday.
CABELL: And we're now hearing that the monument is being moved? In fact, there's good visual evidence inside it's being moved. Is there a failure,in a sense?
SPARKS: It is a failure. It's not a failure for those of us who are out here supporting Judge Moore and justice. It is a failure for those of our justice system who have refused to give us justice.
CABELL: What can you and the rest of you out here do at this point? Anything?
SPARKS: We can continue to stay here and show that we will not back down from this issue. We can continue to pray and call on other Christians and other religious people around this country to join us in our rally for our constitutional freedoms.
CABELL: If the monument is in fact moved to a back room, which is what we're hearing, what then? Do you say here? Do you pray? Is there anything you can do at this point to stop what's happening inside?
SPARKS: As far as what's physically happening here today, I'm not sure what we can do about it, but we will stay here. We will pray. We still have lawsuits under way in Mobile, and there's a hearing with the attorneys, with Judge Thompson here on Friday, so we will let the legal procedures go forward also.
CABELL: Will there be political repercussions here in Alabama, do you expect?
SPARKS: Absolutely. Hopefully, in the coming years,, 10 men will be out of office because of this, eight associate justices, a governor and an attorney general.
CABELL: We've been told, actually most of the associate justices probably agree with keeping the monument inside, but they decided they didn't want to defy a federal order. We also know that the attorney general here, Bill Pryor, is a conservative Republican. He also more or less approves, as we understand, of the Ten Commandments being in this building. So what do you say to those people who actually sympathize with your beliefs?
SPARKS: Well, I have to say those who tell us with their voice that they support us, that they must also use their action to show the convictions of their heart. We all do well to speak, but when it comes to action, that's quite another story. If they're truly on our side, let them stand up and be counted.
CABELL: You're going to be out here for another couple days, you and the others?
SPARKS: I'll be here as long as it takes.
CABELL: Thank you very much, Reverend Sparks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 27, 2003 - 09:44 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BRIAN CABELL, CNN ANCHOR: As you can see, people are out here, they are praying, they are chanting, they are cheering. We pulled aside with us one of the speakers just a few moments ago, Reverend Daniel Sparks.
Reverend Sparks, you've been out here since when?
REV. DANIEL SPARKS: I've been here since last Wednesday.
CABELL: And we're now hearing that the monument is being moved? In fact, there's good visual evidence inside it's being moved. Is there a failure,in a sense?
SPARKS: It is a failure. It's not a failure for those of us who are out here supporting Judge Moore and justice. It is a failure for those of our justice system who have refused to give us justice.
CABELL: What can you and the rest of you out here do at this point? Anything?
SPARKS: We can continue to stay here and show that we will not back down from this issue. We can continue to pray and call on other Christians and other religious people around this country to join us in our rally for our constitutional freedoms.
CABELL: If the monument is in fact moved to a back room, which is what we're hearing, what then? Do you say here? Do you pray? Is there anything you can do at this point to stop what's happening inside?
SPARKS: As far as what's physically happening here today, I'm not sure what we can do about it, but we will stay here. We will pray. We still have lawsuits under way in Mobile, and there's a hearing with the attorneys, with Judge Thompson here on Friday, so we will let the legal procedures go forward also.
CABELL: Will there be political repercussions here in Alabama, do you expect?
SPARKS: Absolutely. Hopefully, in the coming years,, 10 men will be out of office because of this, eight associate justices, a governor and an attorney general.
CABELL: We've been told, actually most of the associate justices probably agree with keeping the monument inside, but they decided they didn't want to defy a federal order. We also know that the attorney general here, Bill Pryor, is a conservative Republican. He also more or less approves, as we understand, of the Ten Commandments being in this building. So what do you say to those people who actually sympathize with your beliefs?
SPARKS: Well, I have to say those who tell us with their voice that they support us, that they must also use their action to show the convictions of their heart. We all do well to speak, but when it comes to action, that's quite another story. If they're truly on our side, let them stand up and be counted.
CABELL: You're going to be out here for another couple days, you and the others?
SPARKS: I'll be here as long as it takes.
CABELL: Thank you very much, Reverend Sparks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
