Sharpton challenged to prove tea partiers actually racist

A debate is being scheduled for Rev. Al Sharpton and some of his colleagues-in-thought to provide evidence for their allegations that tea-party members who are protesting big government and high taxes are "racist."

And the event will be held whether Sharpton, Marc Morial of the National Urban League and Walter Fauntroy, co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus, decide to show up or not, according to organizers.

The challenge comes from WND columnist Mychal Massie of Project 21, a division of the National Leadership Network.

TRENDING: The Stinker

Just what is the real deal about America's racial obsession? Find out in "Negrophilia," personally autographed by the author

In a recent WND column, Massie said the only way to overcome the "malevolence" of those "trading on race-based assignations" is to confront their "evil."

"America is the home of freedom and opportunity; if it were not, we would not have problems with illegal immigration. Sharpton, Morial, Fauntroy and their ilk have harmed and sought to divide us for far too long," Massie said. "It is now time for them to show the courage of their convictions and face me in a debate, where they can share with the nation the basis for their vile rhetoric."

Massie cited comments from "progressive black leaders" attacking the recent "Restoring Honor" rally organized in Washington by Fox News talk show host Glenn Beck.

In particular, Fauntroy – a former congressional delegate from the District of Columbia – compared tea parties to the Ku Klux Klan, saying, "You have to use [the names] interchangeably," according to Massie's report.

Restoring Honor attendees (Photo courtesy of Tim Hester and Karla Kuykendall Hester)

Also, Morial said the Beck event "hijack[ed] the imagery and symbolism of August 28 and the Lincoln Memorial to promote an agenda of intolerance."

Massie explained Sharpton claimed the event would "distort what Dr. King's dream was about."

"It's easy to throw stones from behind a fence, but I want to see them step up and defend themselves publicly," Massie said. "I want them to explain themselves under the microscope of debate."

If anything, Massie concluded, the tea party efforts are "joining together … persons from all political parties."

"It epitomizes the very thing Fauntroy readily acknowledged that the 1963 [March on Washington] did – it brings together people of conscience of every race, creed and color to march for jobs and the restoration of constitutional freedoms," he said.

"I say it's time for the likes of Fauntroy, Morial and Sharpton to defend their rhetoric. Over the years, I have quietly offered to debate these types – now I throw down the gauntlet and publicly challenge them. I will personally secure a venue to debate any one – or all of them together – pursuant to the legitimacy of their comments," Massie said.

The three leaders, however, did not respond to certified letters dispatched to them by officials for Project 21.

David Almasi, the director for the national center, told WND today if they continue to not respond, they will be called. But whatever their response, the debate will go forward, he said.

"We're still going to have the event," he said, and Sharpton and the others will be represented by the public statements they've made.

He suggested the name-calling is a strategy by opponents to undermine the tea party efforts.

The Culture and Media Institute recently noted that the "racist" label largely has failed to stick to the tea party participants "due to an utter lack of evidence."

If you'd like to sound off on this issue, please take part in the WorldNetDaily poll.