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Jesse Lee Peterson

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The Reverend
Jesse Lee Peterson
Peterson at BOND in 2015
Born (1949-05-22) May 22, 1949 (age 75)
Midway, Alabama, U.S.
Occupation(s)Radio host, political commentator, minister
Political partyRepublican
Other political
affiliations		Democratic (formerly)
Children1[1]
Peterson's voice
His beliefs on what the order of society is meant to be
Websitejesseleepeterson.com

Jesse Lee Peterson (born May 22, 1949) is an American conservative talk show host, political commentator and Christian minister.[2]

As a Black American raised in the Jim Crow era,[2] Peterson has gained notoriety for his staunchly traditional political and religious views,[3] which have been described as homophobic,[4] and of a white nationalist nature.[5][6][7]


Early life

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Peterson was born on May 22, 1949, in Midway, Alabama, and raised in Comer Hill by his grandparents, who worked on the Comer family plantation where his great-grandparents had worked as slaves a century earlier.[3] His mother and father moved to Gary, Indiana, and East Chicago, Indiana, respectively, where they separately started new families of their own. He was born with a cleft palate that was not repaired until his teens.[8] Peterson lived with his mother and stepfather in Gary as a teenager, briefly attending Edison High School. He then returned to Alabama and graduated from high school before moving to Los Angeles.[3] He attended Los Angeles City College for one year. He says that he started his own janitorial service in 1989.[8]

Political involvement

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In 1990, Peterson founded BOND (Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny), later registered as a religious non-profit. BOND had close ties to the Tea Party movement. Advisory board members have included Sean Hannity[9] and Dennis Prager.[10]

Peterson has participated in activism against illegal immigration, abortion, gun control, and for traditional family values.[11][12][13][14] He has protested against the NAACP[15][16] and feminist lawyer Gloria Allred.[17][18] He has participated in discussions at the annual political convention Politicon.[19][20][21]

From 1999 to 2004, Peterson chose Martin Luther King Jr. Day to hold a "National Day of Repudiation of Jesse Jackson" to highlight his opposition to Jackson, who was near King when he was assassinated.[22]

In 2001, while meeting with Toyota executives in Los Angeles, Peterson accused Jackson of threatening him and his son Jonathan Jackson of assaulting him. In 2006, a jury cleared Jesse Jackson of the threat allegation, but was split on his son's assault allegation. Conservative activist organization Judicial Watch provided attorneys for Peterson in the lawsuit.[23]

In 2002, Peterson debated Michael Eric Dyson on "The Case For/Against Reparations for African Americans," hosted by the National Association of Black Journalists.[24][25][26]

Conservative talk radio host Dennis Prager wrote the forewords to two of Peterson's books.[8][27]

Peterson's radio show was simulcast on Newsmax TV in 2017–2018.[28]

In June 2019, video-sharing platform YouTube demonetized Peterson's channel, amongst many others, under an updated hate speech policy.[29][30]

Peterson appears in the 2020 political documentary Uncle Tom, produced by radio host Larry Elder.[31]

Political views

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Peterson has stated that he used to be a Democrat but became a Republican in his late 30s. He attributed the change to his Christian beliefs.[2]

Racism

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Peterson opposes allowing Muslims to serve in Western governments, and says that racism does not exist. Instead, he believes that every conflict is a spiritual "battle between good and evil".[2][32] He has spoken out against Kwanzaa and Black History Month.[33] Peterson's views have been described by some authors as being consistent with white supremacy, and it has been suggested that white nationalists are encouraged by his rhetoric and compelled to promote him, because Peterson's blackness reduces the shock value of opinions that would be considered outrageous if a white person had expressed them.[6][7]

In 2005, he stated that most African Americans stranded in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina were relying on the government to save them.[34] In 2012, Peterson said about black unemployment, "One of the things that I would do is take all black people back to the South and put them on the plantation.... They need a good hard education on what it is to work."[35][36] He has called Nelson Mandela an "evil man" and said that South Africa was better off under apartheid.[37] In 2020, he called then-U.S. President Donald Trump "the Great White Hope".[38][39]

In 2013, Peterson called Trayvon Martin a "thug". CNN host Piers Morgan called Peterson's comments "quite offensive".[40] In 2015 on political commentator Sean Hannity's show, Peterson defended Michael Slager, a former North Charleston, South Carolina police officer who killed Walter Lamar Scott, an unarmed black man by shooting him in the back. Peterson criticized "angry black folks in this country" who disobey instructions of police, while Hannity pushed back against Peterson and called the killing "cold-blooded". Upset, fellow panelist Leo Terrell abruptly walked out of the interview prematurely.[41][42] In 2017, Slager was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the killing.

In 2018, Peterson compared the Black Lives Matter movement to the Ku Klux Klan, saying that each could be described as an "agitative organization founded by... black lesbians and homosexuals." In response, Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan accused Peterson of homophobia, and Peterson's microphone was muted before he was kicked off the show.[5][43][44]

In 2019, Peterson called activist Andrew Yang a "communist" and "beta male" for his universal basic income proposal. Peterson said Yang, an American born in New York, "should go back to China or wherever he came from."[45]

In 2022, Peterson gave a speech at the third America First Political Action Conference (AFPAC), which was also attended by Nick Fuentes and Marjorie Taylor Greene. AFPAC has been described as a white nationalist political action committee. The Anti-Defamation League described Peterson's speech as the "one of the most racist" of all delivered at the event, in which he described black people as the destroyers of America.[46]

Marriage and women

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Peterson opposes premarital sex. During an interview with former SlutWalk organizer Amber Rose, Peterson responded to the question "if women are sluts what does that make you?" by stating men are "slut makers".[39][47]

Peterson's views on women have been described as misogynistic.[48] Peterson stated in a 2012 sermon that "one of the greatest mistakes America made was to allow women the opportunity to vote." He stated that women "can't handle power in the right way", that they "have no patience", and "don't have love". Political analyst Kirsten Powers confronted Peterson on Sean Hannity's program on Fox News, accusing him of using his status as a pastor to preach hatred and fear of women.[49][50][51]

In 2019, a person who was considering marrying a woman who had a previous child conceived by rape called Peterson's radio show and was told by Peterson: "Do not marry a woman...who already has children. It's bad enough on kids when they don't have both parents, it's worse when a so-called step-parent steps in ... they want their natural father and natural mother, and especially their natural father."[52]

Personal life

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Peterson has one son. He has been engaged twice but never married.[1]

Published works

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  • From Rage to Responsibility: Black Conservative Jesse Lee Peterson and America Today, with Dennis Prager and Brad Stetson. Paragon House, 2000, ISBN 1-55778-788-3
  • SCAM: How the Black Leadership Exploits Black America, WND Books, ISBN 0-7852-6331-4. Reprinted, Thomas Nelson, 2005, ISBN 978-1595550453
  • The Seven Guaranteed Steps to Spiritual, Family and Financial Success, 2007.
  • The ANTIDOTE: Healing America from the Poison of Hate, Blame and Victimhood, WND Books, ISBN 978-1-942475-00-2 (hardcover), 2015.

References

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  1. ^ a b Peterson, Jesse Lee (October 5, 2020). "I never married... I was engaged twice..." (Video). YouTube. Time stamp 30:41. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d Prowse-Gany, Brian (September 12, 2018). "Unfiltered: 'The democratic plantation really is worse than the plantation I grew up on'". Archived from the original on September 13, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Klavan, Andrew. "A Man Alone: Jesse Lee Peterson versus the "black experience"". City Journal (Winter 2010). Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
  4. ^ "Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson says giving women the right to vote 'one of the greatest mistakes America made'". New York Daily News. May 9, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Palmer, Ewan (May 2, 2018). "Piers Morgan cuts off interview with guest who claimed "evil" BLM was founded by "lesbians and homosexuals"". Newsweek. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Blumenthal 2005, p. 23 "For white nationalists determined to intimidate and marginalize aspirant ethnic minorities, Peterson could embolden their crusade. It's no wonder both factions have promoted him so aggressively"
  7. ^ a b Starkey, Brando (January 12, 2015). In Defense of Uncle Tom: Why Blacks Must Police Racial Loyalty. Cambridge University Press. p. 325. ISBN 978-1-316-21408-4. And equally important, Peterson's presence establishes that white faces wishing to do blacks harm still appreciate the benefits of a black mask.
  8. ^ a b c Peterson, Jesse Lee (2000). From Rage to Responsibility: Black Conservative Jesse Lee Peterson and America Today. Stetson, Brad. (1st ed.). St. Paul, Minn.: Paragon House. pp. 6, 9. ISBN 1-55778-788-3. OCLC 43333533.
  9. ^ "FOX's Hannity finally disclosed ties to Rev. Peterson". Media Matters for America. February 2, 2005.
  10. ^ Alter, Jonathan (June 4, 2013). The Center Holds: Obama and His Enemies. Simon and Schuster. p. 68. ISBN 978-1-4516-4610-8.
  11. ^ "Jesse Lee Peterson at Reform Party National Convention, Day 3, Session 2, 2000 | C-SPAN.org". www.c-span.org. August 12, 2000. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  12. ^ Johnston, Patrick (August 10, 2010). "Barbour native has strong words for Obama, Dems". Dothan Eagle. Archived from the original on October 18, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  13. ^ "LA County to boycott Arizona over immigration law". SCPR / AP. June 1, 2010. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  14. ^ Levine, Brittany (March 12, 2013). "Glendale council moves to ban gun show". Glendale News-Press. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  15. ^ Neiwert, David. "Jesse Lee Peterson Leads Tea Partiers' Protest Of NAACP Convention -- With A Side Order Of Nativism". Crooks and Liars. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  16. ^ "Black Tea Party group to rally against the NAACP". TheGrio. July 21, 2011. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  17. ^ Hayes, Rob (October 19, 2016). "Trump supporters protest Gloria Allred role in sexual assault allegations". ABC7 Los Angeles. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  18. ^ Bennett, Anita (October 18, 2016). "Donald Trump supporters protest outside lawyer Gloria Allred's office". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  19. ^ Rene, Gross (July 31, 2017). "Politicon debate on immigration and the wall turns heated". SCPR. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  20. ^ Blanchard, Joshua (July 29, 2017). "Photo: Jesse Lee Peterson at 'No One's Above the Law' Panel at Politicon". Getty Images. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  21. ^ "Politicon Speakers Bio Page: Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson". Politicon. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  22. ^ Blumenthal, Max (March 24, 2005). "The Minister of Minstrelsy". The Nation. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  23. ^ Richardson, Lisa (January 28, 2006). "Jury Clears Jesse Jackson of Threatening Adversary". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  24. ^ "Black Journalists Jeer Peer". The Washington Times. August 8, 2002. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  25. ^ Mac Donald, Heather (Spring 2005). "Heralds of a Brighter Black Future". City Journal. Archived from the original on October 20, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  26. ^ "FOXNews.com: Partial transcript from Hannity & Colmes". Fox News. August 12, 2002. Archived from the original on October 10, 2002. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  27. ^ Peterson, Jesse Lee (2015). The Antidote: Healing America from the Poison of Hate, Blame and Victimhood. Washington, D.C.: WND. ISBN 978-1-942475-01-9. OCLC 930707600.
  28. ^ Holt, Jared (January 17, 2019). "Newsmax TV Drops Jesse Lee Peterson's Show, But Keeps Him As Contributor". Right Wing Watch. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  29. ^ "YouTube Will Now Block Discriminatory Content, Just A Day After Saying It Doesn't Violate Its Policies". BuzzFeed News. June 5, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  30. ^ Re, Gregg (June 5, 2019). "YouTube ends monetization of conservative commentator Steven Crowder's channel, several others after left-wing outrage". Fox News. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  31. ^ Bond, Paul (March 20, 2020). "'Uncle Tom' documentary explores what it's like to be a minority within a minority group, a black conservative". Newsweek. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  32. ^ Fearnow, Benjamin (March 17, 2019). "Right-wing radio host says election of Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib proves "Muslims treated better than whites'". Newsweek. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  33. ^ Brown, Ann (February 21, 2020). "Jesse Lee Peterson Says It's Time to Bury Black History Month". Moguldom. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  34. ^ Mickelson, David (September 30, 2005). "Fact Check: Moral Poverty: E-mail reproduces Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson's editorial critical of New Orleans blacks and their 'moral poverty.'". Snopes. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  35. ^ Lee, Trymaine (January 17, 2012). "He Said What? Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson Says Blacks Should Be Sent 'Back To Plantation' To Boost Work Ethic". HuffPost. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  36. ^ Wilson, Simone (January 23, 2012). "South L.A. Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson Wants to Send Black Youth Back to Plantation". LA Weekly. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  37. ^ Holt, Jared (July 11, 2018). "Jesse Lee Peterson & Lauren Southern: Nelson Mandela Was Evil, South Africa Better Under Apartheid". Right Wing Watch. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  38. ^ Sharlet, Jeff (June 18, 2020). "'He's the Chosen One to Run America': Inside the Cult of Trump, His Rallies Are Church and He Is the Gospel". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  39. ^ a b "Amber Rose Gets Candid About Kanye vs. Trump, Rape Culture, SlutWalk and 21 Savage". Toofab. May 18, 2018. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  40. ^ Feldman, Josh (July 19, 2013). "Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson To Piers: Trayvon Was 'Thug,' Not 'Innocent Little Kid, Tip-Toeing Through The Tulips'". Mediaite. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  41. ^ Avalos, Regina (April 12, 2015). "'Hannity' Guest Storms Off: Heated Walter Scott Shooting Debate Leads To Exit". The Inquisitr. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  42. ^ Champion, Matthew (April 10, 2015). "Guest storms off Sean Hannity show during Walter Scott shooting". indy100. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  43. ^ Starkey, Adam (May 2, 2018). "Piers Morgan cuts off guest defending Kanye West after homophobic comments". Metro. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  44. ^ Sporn, Natasha (May 2, 2018). "Piers Morgan cuts off controversial guest during Good Morning Britain debate". Evening Standard. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  45. ^ Cole, Brendan (September 6, 2019). "Right-wing radio host says New York-born Andrew Yang "should go back to China": "Why is he coming here to turn America into the place that he left?"". Newsweek. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  46. ^ "AFPAC III: Elected Officials Support White Supremacist Event". Jesse Lee Peterson, a Black pastor and radio show host, ended up giving one of the most racist speeches of the evening, talking about how whites built the country and that Blacks are destroying what whites have created.
  47. ^ Riley, Ricky (May 20, 2018). "Amber Rose Calls Trump 'Kanye In A White Man's Body,' Calls Out Hypocrisy Of Men Sleeping With Multiple Women". Blavity News & Politics. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  48. ^ "Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson says women getting the vote "one of the greatest mistakes America made"". New York Daily News. May 9, 2012.
  49. ^ Kleinman, Jacob (May 9, 2012). "Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson Sexist Sermon: 'Greatest Mistake America Made Was Allowing Women To Vote' [VIDEO]". International Business Times.
  50. ^ Demby, Gene (May 8, 2012). "Pastor: Women's Voting Rights 'One Of America's Greatest Mistakes'". HuffPost. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  51. ^ Neal, Maeghan (May 9, 2012). "Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson says women getting the vote "one of the greatest mistakes America made"". Daily News. New York. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  52. ^ Mantyla, Kyle (January 10, 2019). "Jesse Lee Peterson: A Child Conceived in Rape Should Be Raised by the Rapist". Right Wing Watch. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
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