Police, Kerry staff expel Roman-collar-wearing seminarians from Kerry/Edwards Debate Watch Party

Pro-Life Witness: How It Happened

Last evening a group of seminarians dressed in clerical attire and the sweatshirts you see to the left, and laity gathered to offer a pro-life witness at the Kerry/Edwards Debate Watch Party and Rally held at the America 's Center downtown St. Louis .

The group, which was about 25 in number, gathered at 5:30 pm for prayer and instructions, after that we walked to the America 's Center while praying the Stations of the Cross. When we arrived we got in line to enter the event like everyone else. Two of us carried two bags containing signs for the whole group to hold. We (the two of us with the signs) were immediately confronted by some "Firemen for Kerry" who were providing security for the event. They informed us that we would be unable to take the signs into the event. I informed them that I had already spoken to the security officials earlier that day and they informed that if there were no sticks or any other thing that could be used as a weapon that they would have no problem with us bringing the signs in. At that point I asked to speak with the person who was supervising them. After a short wait a gentleman claiming to be a secret service agent (although I have my doubts) came and conceded that legally the could not keep us or the signs out of the event, but that the Kerry/Edwards people decided that we should not bring them in. I then asked to speak to someone from the Kerry/Edwards campaign.

After a longer wait a young lady claiming to be a staff member of the Kerry/Edwards campaign approached. She asked to see the signs, so we showed them to her. As soon as she realized that the signs said things such as "You CANT be Catholic and pro-choice. She said that we would be unable to enter with the signs. I produced a document from the ACLU that said otherwise. At this point we began to be accosted by various Kerry supporters. They were right up in my face, screaming and yelling. With their arms flailing they informed me that I was not welcome there. Others screamed "Who are you to tell me that my daughter who was raped cannot have an abortion." We remained calm and prayerful.

At this point I received a phone call from the main group of seminarians telling me that the police and security had informed them that our whole group was going to be denied access to the event and were preparing to escort them from the building. Being the spokesman for the group I immediately went to speak with the police. I informed them that since this was a public event and we had tickets that they had no right to deny us access. They assured me that they could and would deny us access. I asked to speak with the next level of security. After waiting about a half hour I was approached by the highest ranking officer present who informed me that the Kerry/Edwards people were denying us access. I asked to once again speak with a representative from the Kerry/Edwards campaign.

They sent the same woman who I had discussed the sign issue with. She informed me that since the Kerry/Edwards campaign had rented the America 's Center they had every right to deny anyone that they deemed likely to cause a disruption of to be a threat to the safety of the Senator. I told her that we would leave our signs outside. She said no. I told her that we would say nothing, and that we were not there to cause a disruption or harm to the Senator, and that if we did cause a disruption they could remove us. She said no. I asked her what evidence they had that we were going to cause a disruption, at which time she fell silent because there was no evidence. Up until this time the only disruptions were those cause by the Kerry supporters themselves, all we did was stand silently in prayer. I pressed her on this issue, but she could not give an adequate answer. They had no grounds for expelling us other than the fact that we were wearing roman collars. They knew our very presence would challenge Senator Kerry’s position on Life issues and the wanted to avoid that, even if it meant squelching our freedom of speech and freedom of expression. So much for the Democratic Party being a party of understanding and diversity.

At this point the Kerry people left and I was whisked away for a meeting with the police. They informed me that I had two options. To be escorted out peacefully or forcefully. I told them that we would leave peacefully since we did not come to cause problems only to provide a silent and prayerful witness to the sanctity of human life. I told the officers that I had only one request before we left; I wanted to know the reason we were being denied entrance. Clearly, as the police conceded, we were not a security threat, and there was no evidence that we were going to be disruptive. They asked the Kerry/Edwards people who said they would no longer speak to us about anything. Thus we were escorted out amid jeer and cheering from those still standing in line. But this is not the end of the story...

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