Pastor defends sign calling minority Trump supporters ‘ignorant’

An Alabama pastor has refused to retract a church sign calling minority Trump supporters “ignorant,” even as his provocative message drew criticism from public figures. Pastor Michael R. Jordan of New Era Baptist Church in Birmingham is known for using his church sign to convey controversial messages.

His latest sign reads: “Warning African Americans: A Vote for Trump Will Return Blacks to Picking Cotton,” AL.com reported. On the other side it says: “Attention all blacks who plan to vote for Trump: you are an ignorant, stupid nigger.”

The sign drew criticism from Alabama Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth.

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On the social media platform X, Ainsworth wrote“Churches are expected to spread the Gospel, offer messages of God’s love and share the life of Christ, and not threaten, intimidate and insult those who exercise their right to vote and support the candidate who is best for them. Those responsible for this sign should be ashamed.”

In response the pastor replied told WVTM 13: “He thinks from a Republican perspective. Donald Trump makes sad, pathetic negative statements about people every day.”

Jordan reportedly plans to keep the message visible during the inauguration.

When asked if his use of phrases like “ignorant, stupid nigger” could offend potential churchgoers, Jordan said he wasn’t concerned because he believes such language attracts attention. He explained that he wants to convey the seriousness of the upcoming election to African Americans and poor whites.

Jordan has a history of posting provocative messages.

In 2019, he posted a sign that read, “A white vote for Trump is pure racism,” and in 2017, he posted, “Trump cheated poor white people.”

His controversial signals date back to 2004, when he posted: “AIDS is God’s curse on homosexuals.” In 2008, he warned about drug dealers selling crack cocaine on the same street as the church. In 2013, he posted messages supporting Trayvon Martin and criticizing the George Zimmerman jury.

“This is my ministry. This is my calling,” Jordan said. “Pastor, white or black, is a watchman,” Jordan said. “I’m going to take a stand.”

Other preachers have also addressed political messages from the pulpit.

In February, Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in California encouraged his congregation to vote for Republican former Dodgers star Steve Garvey. “I want to publicly encourage you now to vote for Steve Garvey,” Hibbs said, stepping down from the pulpit to meet legal restrictions.

In November 2022, Pastor Jamal Bryant of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia, criticized Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker.

During a sermon, Bryant called Walker “the lowest caricature of a stereotypical, broken black man.” Walker ran against incumbent Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock, who is also pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.