It wasn`t exactly a case of David versus Goliath.
But on Sunday, Rev. Michael Pfleger and his parishioners made a joyful noise unto the Lord for a victory against long odds.
Standing in the aisle of his South Side Catholic church with outstretched arms and a luminous face, Pfleger led parishioners in a spirit-filled service of thanks and praise.
It was a celebration of Pfleger`s acquittal on criminal charges last week stemming from his defacing of billboards and also of the decision of the G. Heileman Brewing Co. to pull its controversial PowerMaster malt liquor from the market.
Pfleger was among those who participated in a national protest of PowerMaster, saying the brew, which had an unusually high alcohol content, was targeted at minorities.
”Give God the glory,” shouted Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina Catholic Church, 1210 W. 78th Pl. ”Give God the praise. Hallelujah. God has shown himself. We came to celebrate victory today.”
”I thought it was wonderful and deserved,” parishioner Linda Wright said after service.
”It shouldn`t have gotten to that point.
”These companies have a right to advertise. But if you`re not going to put it in the white communities, don`t put it in the black communities.”
Pfleger and his congregation say it was partly divine intervention that prompted officials of Heileman, headquartered in La Crosse, Wis., to announce Wednesday that the company would discontinue the high-alcohol malt liquor.
But the company`s decision also faced earthly opposition. The brew, which was to have been introduced this month, was criticized by black leaders, the surgeon general and various anti-drinking groups.
Critics argued that the product`s sales campaign appeared to target minority drinkers, encouraging them to consume more alcohol and exposing them to its health risks.
The move to withdraw the malt liquor came after a two-hour meeting in Washington last week between company representatives and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms officials. Agency officials said they told the company that approval for the PowerMaster label had been withdrawn because such beverages cannot be promoted on the basis of their alcohol content.
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Pfleger and Rev. George Clements, pastor of Holy Angels Church, also on the South Side, were among those who protested PowerMaster. They were arrested June 26 for trespassing after seeking to meet with Heileman company officials in La Crosse.
Pfleger, who has campaigned strongly against the marketing of alcohol and tobacco in minority neighborhoods, took to the streets last July, painting over liquor and cigarette billboards. Two billboard company executives patrolling the area to stop the vandalism spotted Pfleger defacing ads on July 10, 1990, and called police.
Pfleger admitted defacing the signs. He contends that alcohol and tobacco ads are concentrated in the neighborhood because most of the residents are black. He was acquitted Tuesday after his attorney argued that the priest defaced the signs to prevent a greater harm from befalling young people who might be influenced by the advertisements.
From the steps of his church where he greeted parishioners Sunday, Pfleger vowed to continue his fight against alcohol and tobacco billboards even if that means defacing more of them. He said he will seek the help of the City Council in ridding other neighborhoods of such billboards.
”Now we`re going to go back and say, `Do your job,` ” Pfleger said.
”If they won`t do it, we`re going to go back to the streets.”