The ‘Love Fuhrman’ Campaign : Racism: A minister from Orange displays a banner of tolerance. He says people must overcome hate with love.

Steve Gooden spent Saturday asking shoppers to embrace Mark Fuhrman, the former Los Angeles police detective who has been criticized for racist remarks that were revealed in the O.J. Simpson double murder trial.

For almost an hour, the Orange resident stood in the high noon heat draping a 10-foot-wide banner proclaiming “Love Mark Fuhrman, To Help End Racism!” over the South Coast Plaza footbridge that arches over Bristol Street.

“I want people to understand one thing--love is greater than hate,” Gooden said. “If we ever are going to get over racism, we need to love Fuhrman.”

As he spoke adamantly of love transcending racism, beads of sweat trickled down Gooden’s temple and soaked his silk teal shirt collar that tucked a necktie bearing a U.S. flag and an elephant’s head, signifying his ties to the Republican Party.

Gooden, 31, said he founded the Non-Compromising Ministry eight years ago, which promotes “morals and traditional American values” to youth, he said.

“I’m called the Generation X Minister,” said Gooden, who belongs to the Life Bible Church in San Juan Capistrano.

Gooden said he came to Southern California eight years ago from Virginia to join the televangelist industry. Gooden, whose stage name is TRQ (which stands for The Right Question), gained international attention at the 1992 Republican convention when he performed Christian rap songs that countered popular rap artists such as Ice-T and Snoop Doggy Dog.

“I’ve been ostracized by the black community,” Gooden acknowledged. “They’ve called me a trader and a sell-out.”

Such attacks are common, he said. He launched his “Love Fuhrman” campaign Friday at the Los Angeles criminal courts building, where vendors and passers-bye bombarded him with hisses and snarls, he said.

“I don’t agree with Mark Fuhrman. I pity him,” Gooden said. “It is his ignorance and hatred that has for some reason deprived him of the attitude of love.”

Although the banner went unnoticed by many heading to the mall, several motorists honked, whether in support or opposition, as they drove past the bridge. Most shoppers glanced at the sign and cringed.