Posted on Sun, Dec. 28, 2003


Sharpton visits Spartanburg church


Associated Press

The Rev. Al Sharpton criticized President Bush and the war in Iraq during a campaign stop Sunday at a Spartanburg church.

Sharpton spoke to about 200 congregation members at the predominantly black Silver Hill Memorial United Methodist Church.

The Democratic presidential candidate accused Bush of starting a non-military civil war in Iraq, the (Spartanburg) Herald-Journal reported.

"We were told that we had to go to war because we were in imminent danger and that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction," Sharpton said. But Sharpton said Bush and his aides still have not come up with evidence of the weapons.

"Bush has cameras that can take photos 10 miles down, turn the corner and go through a building, yet he cannot show us one picture of one weapon of mass destruction nowhere in Iraq," he said.

Sharpton also questioned the financial aid package the U.S. approved to help rebuild Iraq.

"We can come up as a nation with $87 billion for Iraq, but we don't have any money for healthcare in South Carolina," Sharpton said. "We come up with million of dollars for the children in Iraq, but we don't have any money for the education of children right here in Spartanburg. Something is wrong with that."

Information from: Herald-Journal





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