Chris Stewart = Rahelio Soleil: Letter to Our Public Servants

You want something done? You've got to ask people... newspapers, government officials, unelected officials, jackasses with blogs, etc.

I sent this letter to various members of the Minneapolis School Board as well as the mayor (not that it will get much traction in R.T.'s office).

Esteemed public servants,

Please consider handling this huge problem with Chris Stewart much more seriously. Parents all over watch this case and will decide what to do with their children based on whether this man serves on the school board. If he takes his seat many will reconsider sending their children into the Minneapolis public school system. I have a child and would not want him attending a school where a school board member has said the things Chris Stewart has said in print, done the things he has done on-line, and evaded his responsibilities personally. My wife agrees with me. Not only do other members of my family also agree, but many friends and co-workers... and I work for a university.

What has not come to light in the Star-Tribune is Chris Stewart's articles posted in on-line publications and blogs (links provided below):

* White people in America do not care about black people
* Anyone who supports the President is "zero degrees" separated from America's worst racists
* Black people who disagree with Mr. Stewart are awarded "the Coon Award"

He is evasive, insulting, hyperbolic, and narrow-minded... yet he portrays himself otherwise.

I urge you to speak privately with Mr. Stewart and urge him to attempt to save what little honor he has left, but more importantly to keep the Minneapolis School Board from getting seen as a governmental body with poor judgment. Save yourselves from guilt by association.


White people don't care about blacks:
http://www.thenewblackmagazine.com/view.aspx?index=287

Chris Stewart = Rahelio Soleil:
http://technorati.com/search/%22Rahelio%20Soliel%22
http://technorati.com/search/%22chris%20stewart%22

Zero degrees of separation from America's worst racists:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/anticoonshow/message/767

Links to his so-called "Coon Award":
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22coon+award%22%2Brahelio&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official

Direct links to his American Hot Sausage website will not work, but you may find various "cached" articles by searching for "rahelio" (or "Rahelio soleil") and "coon award" (or any other various subjects).

Thank you for your time and attention.

What are People Saying About the Hate-Filled Chris Stewart???

You know Chris Stewart... the guy who claims he is a reverend (and might be, but he doesn't act like one), ran for a school board member seat in Minneapolis, calls himself Rahelio Soleil, took part in a Yahoo! Group called the Anti-Coon Show (not to mention he posted a piece stating that President Bush, Republicans, and those who support them have zero degrees of separation from America's most hateful racists), shamelessly awarded black people with whom he disagrees the Coon Award (his blog American Hot Sausage is currently inactive), suggested that white people and America in general does not care about black people (see the earlier post), and painted Tammy Lee and her supporters as bigoted racists. (Stewart was supported and endorsed by Lee's DFL opponent Keith Elison.)

If you don't, or even if you think you know him... start reading some more about him:


Ranger1's live journal: "Post-Election Lameness"
... and a semi-related post about one of Stewart's co-members on the school board.


Lake Minnetonka Liberty: "Our Strib Letter of the Day"


Minnesota's in the Middle: "Blaming Tammy Lee"


Lloydletta's Nooz and Comments: "Star-Tribune Editorial Calls for Chris Stewart's Resignation"


MN Publius: "Rev. Rahelio = Chris Stweart = Lame"


Shot in the Dark: "Bad Taste and Tastes Bad"


To keep an eye on these posts and other blogs, please use these links...
Technorati: "Chris Stewart"

Technorati: "Rahelio Soleil"

Chris Stewart: "white America doesn't care about black people"

If we are to believe a crackpot, hare-brained, Minneapolis politico-hopeful, then not only are we to buy that line of nonsense, we are also to urge folks to repeat it openly and often (just the way the party of Rahelio likes to vote). At least, the self-proclaimed reverend Chris Stweart/Rahelio Soleil wants black celebrities to tell that story from up on the mountain.

A year ago after Hurricane Katrina destroyed most of New Orleans, Kanye West awkwardly and emotionally blurted out "George Bush doesn't care about black people" on live television, it did more than rattle Mike Meyers and draw the usual indignation of media talking-heads.

More notable black personalities should grow a Kanye-sized pair and start telling the truth.

It might seem a little radical, but it exposes a basic truth we should state openly and often, in even broader terms: Indeed, white America doesn't care about black people.

No need to put sugar on it or wish it weren't so. It's true, get over it!

[...]

America's party line says slavery was good for black people; 30 years of affirmative action repaid 400 years of dehumanization, and women with short skirts deserve rape (unless they are white women, in which case a national boycott against Aruba is best).

Read it.

Send comments where?
comments@thenewblackmagazine.com


...and, of course, the Minneapolis School Board
Minneapolis Public Schools
John B. Davis Educational Service Center
807 Broadway Avenue
N.E.Minneapolis, MN 55413 U.S.A.
voicemail: 612.668.0632
facsimile: 612.330.1339
www.mpls.k12.mn.us

Request to the Minneapolis School Board for help

Yesterday, I sent a note off to the school board asking for each members' help in convincing Chris Stewart to resign his newly elected seat. I have posted it below for everyone to review.


From :
Joseph A. Erickson
Sent : Thursday, November 16, 2006 9:29 AM
To : Jim W
Subject : Re: Chris Stewart

Dear Mr. W: Thank you for your comments. At this point, I’d suggest you make sure your comments reach Mr. Stewart. He is in the best position to act to end this situation. Respectfully, Joe

Please note: Although all School Board members read all their e-mails, the Board and I have agreed that I, as Chair of the Board, will respond to all the e-mail messages that are addressed to the entire Board, rather than have all seven Board members responding to each message.--

Joseph A. Erickson
Chair
Minneapolis School Board
Minneapolis Public Schools
John B. Davis Educational Service Center
807 Broadway Avenue
N.E.Minneapolis, MN 55413 U.S.A.
voicemail: 612.668.0632
facsimile: 612.330.1339
www.mpls.k12.mn.us

From: Jim W
Joseph.Erickson@mpls.k12.mn.us
Sharon.Henry-Blythe@mpls.k12.mn.us
Judith.Farmer@mpls.k12.mn.us
Peggy.Flanagan@mpls.k12.mn.us
Audrey.Johnson@mpls.k12.mn.us
lydia.lee@mpls.k12.mn.us
Colleen.Moriarty@mpls.k12.mn.us
Subject: Chris Stewart
This note is to urge each of you to re-think your decision regarding Chris Stewart. As I understand it, you all have "scolded" him but not demanded that he resign from his newly elected seat on the school board. This is a huge mistake. His story about other people being responsible and "let's move forward" is nothing short of deflection. He is deceiving each of you just like he decieved voters in the city.

He was elected. There is nothing that can change that, except his resignation. But the circumstances surrounding his election, and his unwillingness to comment on the proof of his involvement with the racist site should weigh heavily in your decision. He purposely put off answering calls on this subject until after he was elected! Then he admitted involvement and asked that we all move on. Is this the message you want sent out to kids and parents? Kids can be expelled for the very same hate speech Mr. Stewart took part in, yet he is simply scolded and allowed to stay on the board?

But don't take my words as reason enough to demand his resignation - let's allow the facts speak for themselves. I have done extensive research on Mr. Stewart and have proven that he IS the same person as "Rahelio Soleil". I have proven it in a post on a blog for which I contribute.
http://anti-strib.blogspot.com/2006/11/rahelio-soleil-chris-stewart.html

And additional information, including "coon" references that he makes on his blog.
http://anti-strib.blogspot.com/2006/11/chris-stewart-aka-rahelio-soleil.html

The question that I posed in my last post I will also pose to each of you here:
-Knowing all we know about Chris Stewart, is this the type of person we want involved with the education of kids in Minneapolis?

To each of you, I ask some additional questions -
- Are you willing to take a chance on this man, given the facts that are presented?

- Are you willing to accept responsibility for saying yes and having the kids and parents endure FOUR YEARS of his sitting on the board?

- Given the facts about Mr. Stewart and taking his personal views into consideration, do you feel comfortable with his ability to make sound judgments where the children of other ethnicities in Minneapolis are concerned?

To me, the answer is easy. You cannot allow this man (who deceived voters and supporters during the campaign) to sit on the board. PLEASE reconsider your support for Mr. Stewart. Scolding is not enough. He cannot be allowed to serve. Each of you have a duty to the kids and parents in Minneapolis to do what is right on their behalf. I urge you to do your duty and immediately demand a resignation from Chris Stewart.
_______________________________________________________________

It is incredbily disappointing to me that the board chair has opted to pass on this opportunity to demand a resignation from Mr. Stewart. Or has he??? Does Mr. Erickson REALLY believe Mr. Stewarts word that he's a good guy over the facts that Chrishelio is a lying fraud that deceived the voters in Mpls and is a known racist? Take heed of Mr. Ericksons words -

At this point, I’d suggest you make sure your comments reach Mr. Stewart. He is in the best position to act to end this situation.

While I think they have done as much as they are going to do, I take Mr. Erickson's words to mean that we should not stop. Just as the board has a duty to do what is right by the kids and parents of Mpls, we also have a duty to see this through.

Keep the pressure on Rahelio/Chris!!! Don't let up!!