Russ and Dee Fine, Bob Riley, and the Masonic Scandal

As I have reported to you already, popular Birmingham, Alabama talk-show hosts Russ and Dee Fine were fired by Crawford Broadcasting after reporting on the air that Governor Bob Riley, who is running for re-election, is a member of the Grand Lodge of Alabama--a Masonic group that does not recognize 'Prince Hall Masons,' a Masonic order made up primarily of Blacks. This is an update to their story.

A letter by Russ and Dee Fine appears on a blog entitled, 'The Modern FreeMasonic Journal,' and the blogger is Darren Simpson. He has done an incredible job in keeping us updated on this shocking story. You can visit his blog at www.the-modern-freemasonic-journal.blogspot.com. The specific article is entitled, 'Jim Crow Strikes Back (Russ and Dee Fine's Answer to Critics). I strongly encourage you to visit this website and read the entire article.

For your convenience, I have provided a few excerpts here from Russ and Dee's letter:

As reported on Mason Gary Dryfoos' website, http://web.mit.edu/dryfoo/Masonry/, which bills itself as the oldest Mason website having been around since 1994, the last time an Alabama Mason proposed that the Alabama Grand Lodge recognize the Prince Hall lodges, Alex Harris was not only out-voted, he was out shouted and finally, gaveled into silence before he could read his entire proposal:

"I attempted to give an address on the issue and two sentences into it the brethren became unruly. . . The Grand Master asked the brethren to behave like Masons and I continued. Then, about a third of the way into the speech the brethren became so unruly that the Grand Master asked how much more time I needed. I responded that I had about a page and a half more and the brethren literally erupted. At that time I informed the Grand Master that I understood the position he was in and would take my seat. It was obvious that the Grand Master did not wish to gavel me down but if I had not stopped the meeting would have become more unruly."

Before he was silenced Alex Harris said this to his fellow Alabama Masons:

"Is not part of being a Mason having the courage to stand up for what is just and right, regardless of the consequences? Didn't we learn that from the Masonic founding fathers of our country? Of course, Alabama has been desegregated for over thirty years. We're ready. Brethren, this is 1999. The country has been integrated for a generation. The world has been integrated a lot longer than that. Masons in the rest of the world, and the United States for that matter, can't fathom our refusal to accept Prince Hall Masons."

In the part of the speech he never got to deliver, the brave Alex Harris related the threats and despicable racial slurs that he had heard since taking up the issue and then observed:

"I want to respond to a few of the statements you just heard. First and foremost... if, because I favor recognition, I would be in physical danger... then Masonry does not exist here anymore. Second... anyone who would leave Masonry, because Prince Hall Masonry is granted recognition, is a Mason in title only. Its lesson's are obviously not in their hearts. We may lose a large number of members if the resolution passes. So mote it be. Let them trade their aprons for white sheets with hoods. We are better off without them."

It was November 17, 1999 when Alex Harris was shouted down by his fellow Alabama Masons. It would be interesting to know if Bob Riley was in attendance at that meeting. But no newspaper we have spoken to has the gumption to ask him. Almost seven years have passed since that "unruly" event, and the Alabama Grand Lodge has not changed its opinion of segregation and African Americans. And Bob Riley is still a member, and in fact refuses to quit, even in this, the 21st Century.

It was pointing out the inappropriateness of a sworn public official having membership in a segregated organization that got us fired. "Let them trade their aprons for white sheets with hoods," said Alex Harris. It is apparent that Bob Riley and the Alabama Grand Lodge are happy to use the tactics of the old Klan as well. It is also apparent that like the Klan of old, the newspapers of this state and other media are cravenly hiding their eyes and stilling their tongues, lest the new Jim Crow, which is of course the same old Jim Crow, becomes cross with them and withdraws advertising revenue.

So Jim Crow struck back and we were fired. It is the same old story with new faces. We have not decided on whether we will return to the radio anytime soon and frankly, we don’t even know if we will have the opportunity. The power of the New Jim Crow, represented by our Governor and his slimy friends, may make that difficult. Clearly, it is in their interest to keep us bound and gagged. But we are not out of the fight. Heeding the advice of Winston Churchill, we will never, ever give up. And we urge all of our loyal listeners and the people who have no trouble distinguishing ‘right from wrong’ to stay in the fight, whatever form that takes in the future. The bad guys won this battle. Let's win the next battle, and the war.

Russ and Dee Fine.

posted by Darren Simpson @ 4:33 PM

Thanks again to Darren Simpson for this timely update.