Cleveland, Ohio -- Pride Protesters
Hello --
I thoroughly enjoyed everything on Saturday except for
one thing: the folks who set up next to City Hall with
their sound system. As far as I'm concerned, that was
an act of violence against our community. I hope our
presence there was enough to give them some pause, but
I doubt that it did. What's amazing to me is that
these people think they are somehow representing Jesus
Christ. In my view, nothing could be further from the
truth. They were not drawing people to God and to the
church -- they were driving people away. People have a
right to their opinion, but this was completely over
the top.
I just spoke with the office of Councilman Joe
Santiago. I expressed my concern and my objections to
his assistant, who said in return the Mayor and all
the councilmen need to hear from as many people as
possible. I would assume these folks had a permit of
some kind. I would hope that the Cleveland City
Council would have the ability to pass legislation
that protects the right of people to express their
opinion but restrict that expression. Sound systems
should be out, permanently.
It is all very noble to be like Martin Luther King and
Gandhi and persevere in the face of what goes on. But
that does not mean we have to be passive. These people
are hateful liars. They need to have their hand called
on it, and we don't have stand by passively and let
them get away with it. We also have every right to
insist that it not happen in the future the way it did
on Saturday.
If you agree with me and live in Cleveland, please
contact your city councilman or woman and the mayor
and let them know how you feel about it. If you don't
live in Cleveland, contact Mayor Jackson and let him
know this was a huge black mark against his
administration. We were attacked, and it was on his
watch. He let it happen. I don't necessarily blame
him, but if it happens again in the future, then I
will indeed blame him.
Thanks. Sorry to introduce a negative note. Saturday
was quite wonderful, and it was a real privilege to be
walking with all the UCC church groups. Thank you,
Nancy, for all of your excellent work.
Sincerely,
Jon K. Thompson
Moderator, Brecksville UCC Council
Resident of Cleveland and a PROUD GAY CHRISTIAN!
http://noccucc.org/
posted by Bill Grulich @ 9:37 AM
4 Comments:
Jon,
After 15 years of marching in the Pride parade, this years’ groups of protesters were definitely the meanest spirited I have ever seen. There were actually two separate contingents of protesters.
Next year, the best answer to those who choose to protest is to strengthen our numbers by personally inviting our friends and families to march in and also watch the parade. We could also carry signs and banners that say “Love Your Neighbor” or “We Love You”. We need to stand up to the bullying tactics of fundamentalists on the Religious Right. They will continue bash the LGBT population.
The people, who lined the street in front of the protesters, were a welcome sight.
Bill Grulich
Pilgrim Congregational UCC, Cleveland, Ohio
Thanks to those who stood in front of the protesters.
While I always smile and wave to everyone on the route, protesters and friends alike, it was wonderful to greet those brave women and men who used their bodies to buffer those in the parade.
With all that hate, I could feel the love.
I have to say here that being asked to lead the contigent this year for Pride caring the sign "God is still speaking" and seeing those "haters" as I call them, made me and others behind me (being the Archwood Church) to chant back to them--"Hey, hey, ho, ho homophobia has got to go, God is still speaking and hate is not a christian value" I never felt so proud to be such abig part of such a wonderful group of people of my life and a proud member of the Norton UCC Church---Grace United Church of Christ of Loyal Oak. Thank you so much for letting me feel for the first time in my life that I was a proud to be a chirstian and gay.
Charlie,
I was very proud to see the largest contingent of marchers in this year's parade. Thank you to all of the churches and celebrants who marched in Cleveland's PRIDE Parade 2007!
Bill Grulich
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