Minister in ‘rent-a-protester’ flap offers to open his books
BY ROSALIND ROSSI Education Reporter/rrossi@suntimes.com January 27, 2012 8:18PM
Rev. Roosevelt Watkins of Bethlehem Star Church. File Photo | Brian Jackson~Sun-Times
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Updated: January 28, 2012 2:12AM
A minister in the eye of the “rent-a-protester” storm has offered to open the books of his non-profit agency to prove it spent taxpayer money appropriately — and not on packing school closing hearings with paid protesters.
“Small stipends” offered to school protesters did not come from after-school and safe-passage grants the HOPE Organization received from Chicago Public Schools, the group’s CEO, Rev. Roosevelt Watkins III, told the Chicago Sun-Times in an email.
“I have called CPS and invited them to review the organization’s accounting and verify the grant has been spent appropriately,’’ Watkins, pastor of Bethlehem Star Church, wrote the Sun-Times Thursday evening.
The Rev. Roosevelt Watkins III’s Full Statement
January 27, 2012 8:24PM
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Updated: January 27, 2012 8:45PM
Statement of Roosevelt Watkins, III in response to recent media reports regarding the involvement of other faith leaders, parents, and community residents fighting to ensure every Chicago child has a quality education
“Recent news coverage regarding my involvement and the involvement of other faith leaders, parents, and community residents fighting to ensure every Chicago child has a quality education have been misleading.
“Like every other neighborhood, members of the faith community engage residents, parishioners and activists on how to affect change, including participating in community meetings on issues of significant importance – like education. Often, for their time and involvement in training programs and activities, we provide a small stipend to help offset expenses such as transportation, food and childcare. When community meetings occur from 6-8 PM on a Friday evening, it is not unreasonable to provide someone with a ride or money to pay for the dinner they are missing at home.
“None of these activities were funded by CPS Safe Haven and Safe Passage grants to the