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Obama Invites Anti-Cop Rapper to White House

US First Lady Michelle Obama walks down Cross Hall as she arrives to host a Mother's Day event for military connected mothers, grandmothers, and spouses in the White House in Washington, DC, May 6, 2011.

WASHINGTON, DC – Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr., more commonly known as the rapper “Common”, was invited by First Lady Michelle Obama among other poets to celebrate American poetry and prose on Wednesday, May 11, thedailycaller.com reports.

Lynn’s divisive lyrics about gun violence, shooting police, and even for burning the president (who at the time was George W. Bush), make him a controversial choice for the White House. “Burn a Bush cos for peace he no push no button,” he raps on a YouTube video with more than 800,000 views.

He is also a known supporter of convicted cop killer Mumia Abu-Jamal, according to the examiner.com. Abu-Jamal was a member of the Black Panther Party, and was sentenced in 1981 for killing a Philadelphia police officer.

Coincidentally, President Obama and the rapper/poet Lynn are members of Trinity United Church of Christ, reports the New Hampshire Journal. Additionally, Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008 came under fire when the church’s Reverend Jeremiah Wright made several charged sermons in support of Obama.

“Several of Wright’s sermons caused a firestorm of controversy during the 2008 presidential campaign due to their caustic, racially charged, anti-American tones. One sermon in particular caused Obama a severe headache – the one in which he blamed America for Osama bin Laden’s terrorist attacks. ‘America’s chickens are coming home to roost,’ he said.” – New Hampshire Journal

At the time, Obama defended and then rejected Wright, whereas Lynn came to the reverend’s defense.

Lynn also named his daughter after Assata Shakur, another Black Panther party member. In 1977, Shakur was found guilty of first-degree murder and fled to Cuba after escaping prison, reports the New Hampshire Journal.

At the White House event, Lynn and other artists will participate in an afternoon workshop educating children.

The AP reports that other artists invited to attend are Elizabeth Alexander, Billy Collins, Rita Dove, Kenneth Goldsmith, Alison Knowles, Aimee Mann, and Jill Scott.