From inside the lobby. Police barracaded the church doors, would not let anyone inside leave.
Okay, I guess that's one way to look at it.
Posted on 11/02/2005 2:37:03 PM PST by tuesday afternoon
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS (OCTOBER 29, 2005) As hundreds of people from across Massachusetts and other states came to the Tremont Temple Baptist Church to attend a widely acclaimed conference on recovering from homosexuality through a relationship with God, angry and enraged homosexual activists converged outside to intimidate and terrorize them.
The all-day conference, titled "Love Won Out" featured renowned lecturers, many of whom had left the homosexual lifestyle and are now married or in heterosexual relationships. Major themes included theology and relationships with God, as well as practical information for those struggling with homosexuality or who know people who are in that situation.
But outside, homosexual activists gathered before 8 am and stayed until that evening when the conference ended. They were joined by more activists as the day went on, including many who apparently came from an anti-war rally on the Boston Common.
They did whatever they could to harass and intimidate the attendees, including waving signs, yelling and screaming, and later they even brought a sound truck. Some of the activists went up to individual attendees and took close up photos at them, taunting them personally.
The homosexual demonstrators also set up two coffins right in front of the church, with frightening messages accusing the conference of causing death and suicides.
Pastor Dallas Henry, who came from Maine to attend the conference, said the raging crowd and the threats were "bone chilling." He described how the protesters were using PA systems, shouted obscenities and yelled “Shut it down! Shut it down!” for almost 45 minutes.
According to City of Boston officials, they did not have a permit to demonstrate outside the church, use sound equipment or props, or block traffic for that purpose. Nevertheless, Boston police stood aside and allowed the demonstrators to do pretty much whatever they wanted. At times they even cooperated with the activists, chatting with them, directing traffic for them, and finally allowing them to completely block the street. The police department later informed us that there were no arrests, despite the near-riot behavior and the apparent breaking of laws regarding demonstrating without a permit and disrupting a religious event.
On the other hand, police were abrupt and unfriendly toward attendees. As one woman told us, about when she asked the police about the sound truck that was disturbing the conference inside:
"I asked a very curt, unfriendly policewoman why they weren't getting the truck to move on the road, why they were letting it just sit there, and she snarled there was nothing they could do. It must have gone on for at least 10 or 15 minutes, maybe more."
When the police were asked if the demonstrators had a permit, they refused to answer. It appeared to people we talked to that the demonstrators were given special consideration, to say the least. They did nothing to stop or even control what was going on.
During the day, attendees were told by the conference managers not to leave the building to get lunch or interact in any way with the demonstrators. Instead, they arranged to have bag lunches brought in at the last minute.
But the most frightening situation came in the afternoon. Activists jammed the entire width of the street outside and stepped up their agitation. In response, rather than attempt to disperse the crowd, the police barricaded the church doors and told people inside they could not leave for any reason. When one woman asked why she couldn't go outside, the officer snarled "Because I told you so."
The demonstrators definitely affected the conference. As one attendee related:
"Joe Dallas (LoveWonOut speaker, former gay activist, former head of Exodus Intl) wrapped up the day w a statement about wanting the demonstrators to have their freedom of speech about their feelings and beliefs. But he said ONE THING FRIGHTENED HIM, & that was when they started yelling SHUT IT DOWN! He did send out the alarm that our freedom of speech and religion are seriously at risk. He recounted stories of ministers shut down in other countries..."
Ignored by media. In the Boston media over the following days, the only reference to this horrific incident we could find were two sentences buried at the end of another article, on page B6 (see sidebar).
Also: Click here for more pictures of demonstration throughout the day.
Also: Click here for some of the signs they brought to intimidate.
Article 8 commentary:
Could you imagine if this were an abortion clinic, and pro-life people did such a thing outside? The riot police would be swinging their billy clubs and using pepper spray. They would do whatever it took to disperse the crowd. And it would be on the front page of both the Boston Globe and Boston Herald, as well as all the Boston electronic media.
On a number of occasions, Article 8 Alliance has demonstrated in Boston. Here's how WE'RE treated: First, if you have more than a few people you absolutely need a permit. And you need a special permit if you're using a sound device. The police have the option to place you wherever they think it's "safe." For example, when we demonstrated at the SJC building earlier this year, we were placed across the street, in a specific area of the sidewalk, well away from any building entrance. And believe me, the police became quite nasty if we ventured outside of our designated area.
Another interesting tidbit. . . We telephoned the office of Boston City Councilor Felix Arroyo, who is an active member of the city's "Human Rights Board." When we outlined what had happened at the church, the person at his office curtly told us "I'm not terribly sympathetic." (Why are we not shocked? Councilor Arroyo proudly marches in the annual "Gay Pride" parade in Boston, and is endorsed by the homosexual newspaper.)
Are you going to wait until this happens to YOUR church? Unfortunately, unless and until people around America begin to stand up to this kind of horrific outrage, our message is: Get used to this, and worse. And it will spread across the country unless it's stopped now!
Outraged? Here are some handy phone numbers to start with:
Boston City Hall (for the Mayor's Thomas Menino's office): 617-635-4500
Boston Police Commissioner Kathleen O'Toole: 617-343-4500 Police comment page.
ping
They are sell-outs, traitors to the cause.
If these people were celebrating a Red Sox or Patriots championship the BPD would fire pepper pellets into the crowd.
Well, the Boston Police not only kill college students who've had a few too many, they also condone rabble rousers. Huh: any crowd of so called Catholics who'd elect Teddy Kennedy are suspect from the git go. V's wife.
According to City of Boston officials, they did not have a permit to demonstrate outside the church, use sound equipment or props, or block traffic for that purpose. Nevertheless, Boston police stood aside and allowed the demonstrators to do pretty much whatever they wanted.New England Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys.
New England Pickle-sniffing, Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys
btw isn't 25% of the bpd gay? when i lived there they had a high rate...
bttt
I am not trying to make light of the situation, but it is hard for me to imagine gay anti-war activists intimidating anyone.
I'm sure they're plenty pissed because some of their own are actually smart enough to see the absolute depravity of their lifestyle and willing to go back to a normal existence.
Doesn't appear homosexuals are very tolerant of anyone, but they demand we be tolerant of them. I used to be - before they started shoving their lifestyle and their demands in my face. Now they get the same treatment as anyone else who irritates me: GO AWAY.
Isn't one of the tell-tale signs of cultish activity that once you join, you can't get out?
Okay, I guess that's one way to look at it.
That's what happens when your local Police and Mayor's office are to frightened of being politically incorrect to do their jobs. Mumbles Menino won't lift a finger to help, he's in their pockets.
Wonder how many of these demonstrators are grade school teachers.
That is part of the problem. the coppette was probably a dyke, who could care less.
How do you measure a "near-riot?" Is theres some scale where rainbow-colored signage tips you right into full-blown anarchy?
By shear numbers, volume and confrontational attitude, they could be very intimidating to just about anyone.
Shut it down? A conference for people interested in the possibility of forgoing same-sex behavior? It doesn't seem like anybody is forcing these viewpoints, just presenting them. A very pro-choice event, if you will.
"The homosexual demonstrators also set up two coffins right in front of the church, with frightening messages accusing the conference of causing death and suicides."
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