Pastor Tells First AME: ‘Fight Hate With Love’ : Religion: Thousands, including Mayor Riordan, fill church after it was reportedly the target of a white supremacist group.

Thousands of guests and congregation members turned out Sunday in a rousing show of support for the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles after the arrest of white supremacists who police believe planned to blow up the church and incite a race war.

The Rev. Cecil L. Murray, in his first sermon since the alleged plot against the city’s oldest black congregation was revealed, brought the crowd of worshipers to their feet as he called on them to fight hate with love.

“Hate groups cannot succeed unless love groups give their permission!” he shouted. “You and I are a love group.”

“We’re always looking for peace in the valley, we’re always looking for life, and all God is saying is, ‘Turn your own light on--brighten the corner where you are,’ ” the pastor said.

“Our problem is not with the haters of the world who have nothing within; our problem is with the lovers of the world who have something within and never let it come out,” he said.

Murray ended his sermon with a roaring chorus: “In spite of it all . . . God’s shalom! God’s shalom! God’s shalom! Peace!”

Mayor Richard Riordan changed his schedule at the last minute to appear at the church and offer his support.

“It is very important to send a clear message that Los Angeles is one city, united,” he said. “Today, I stand proud as an Angeleno. . . . It is important that I join the voices of other Angelenos who will put aside their differences in order to be each others’ neighbors.”

Riordan read a brief passage from the Bible, exhorting the city to turn away from hatred and division. “Don’t let evil get the upper hand,” he said, “but conquer evil by doing good.”

Riordan, along with Councilwoman Rita Walters, Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, state Sen. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles), Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti and other officials clapped and swayed to the exuberant beat of the choir during the second of three Sunday services in the 2,000-seat church.

One church leader read off the names of people from around the country who had called the church offering help and support, including that of Scott Fisher, the father of one of the eight white supremacists arrested last week.

Christopher David Fisher, 20, of Long Beach and two juveniles who were arrested were identified as members of the Fourth Reich Skinheads, a group that federal authorities say planned to bomb First AME and spray the congregation with machine gun fire.

Church spokesman Mark Whitlock said the church had made no special preparations to beef up security for Sunday’s sermon.

“There is no need for us to change our operation based on what has happened in the last few days,” he said.

At the entrance to the church, however, ushers did check briefcases and large bags. “It’s not a search,” explained one usher. “It’s just a look-see.”

One man said that many male congregation members spent the service outside keeping an eye on the street.

There were no incidents Sunday, and most church members said the service was just like any other--spirited, loud and joyous.

Some members were worried about the possibility of violence after hearing of the arrests.

But Maurice Ukattah said that he felt more disappointed that the level of hatred in some people had reached the point where they would target a church. “Why would a person want to blow up a church?” he asked. “What could a person possibly gain?”

Ukattah said it was important to attend church Sunday to show that the congregation stood together and was unafraid of racist threats.

“It’s a way of supporting the church and proving that what those people wanted to do was wrong,” he said. “It’s important to send a message.”

Lonnee Hamilton, a New York City resident who is vacationing in Los Angeles, said she attended services to show her support.

“It made me want to come out to church today,” she said. “I’m not a regular churchgoer, but you can’t let people scare you off.”