Filed under: News, President Obama, Race and Civil Rights
According to prosecutors, Massachusetts man Michael Jacques is a racist.
The election of Barack Obama as president reportedly upset Jacques and his buddies so much that they allegedly burned down a predominately black church.
The trial begins on Monday, according to authorities.
Prosecutors say Jacques, 26, Thomas A. Gleason Jr., 22, and Benjamin Haskell, 23, burned down the partially built Macedonia Church of God in Christ (pictured below) on Nov. 5, 2008 -- hours after Obama was elected as the first black president of the United States.
The men allegedly poured gasoline outside the church, set it on fire and destroyed the structure, according to prosecutors.Jacques faces up to 60 years in prison if found guilty.
Jacques' defense is that he was forced to sign a confession, after hours of grilling by police officers as he fought off painkiller and nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
But Jacques' defense seems a little flimsy since Gleason and Haskell have already pleaded guilty to civil rights charges in the case.
Haskell of Springfield was sentenced to nine years after pleading guilty to charges.
Gleason also pleaded guilty to charges and is awaiting sentencing. He is expected to testify against Jacques and confirm that the group used racial slurs and expressed anger about Obama's election.
One has to wonder about the quality of legal advice Jacques is getting in this trial.
It's hard to see how he will be able to mount any defense when two of his cohorts have already admitted to the crime.
I wasn't there, but it sounds like the young racists got a little liquored up, and some bold, angry talk about Obama's election turned into violent action -- action that could have cost the lives of many people.
It's true everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty, but Jacques is entering court with two strikes against him.
Watch the case here: