Falwell's school thwarts gay protesters

Minneapolis Star Tribune ^ | March 10, 2006 | Kay Miller

[Gil4]

Falwell's school thwarts gay protesters

24 participants on the Equality Ride for gay rights were arrested at Liberty University in Virginia. Riders said it won't stop their journey.

Kay Miller, Star Tribune

On the first stop of the nationwide Equality Ride for gay rights Friday, founder and organizer Jacob Reitan of Eden Prairie and 23 other young riders were arrested in Lynchburg, Va.

About 60 police officers and emergency responders lined up outside the entrance of Liberty University, founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell.

As he stepped from the sidewalk onto university property, Reitan, 24, read a speech saying riders had come to foster understanding. As police arrested him, the next rider picked up reading where he left off. By the time all 24 were arrested, the entire text had been read.

"We were hoping to come today to allow students to see the world from our perspective," said Reitan, who has read thousands of letters from gay Christians who feel rejected by their churches and schools.

"This shows you the lengths they are willing to go to to silence people they don't want to hear," said rider David Durand, 26, a graduate of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., who was arrested.

Liberty is a private institution, but its discrimination against gay students doesn't stop with the campus, Durand said. "We all know that the influence of this school and Jerry Falwell affects people all over the country. This just happens to be one center of oppression."

[Gil4]

I almost never post articles, so apologies in advance if I screwed up.

[raybbr]

"We were hoping to come today to allow students to see the world from our perspective," said Reitan, who has read thousands of letters from gay Christians who feel rejected by their churches and schools.

All perversions of nature are shunned by society. Why is he surprised?

[CPOSharky]

I wonder where these preople get the money to do nothing but protest.

[Echo Talon]

Sinners are not welcome at Liberty.

[Boxen]

Funny. I was under the impression that no man or woman was without sin.

Or was that post an attempt at sarcasm?

[BibChr]

Was the stupidity of that statement meant as parody, or was it unintentional?

[Sensei Ern]

AMEN FOR LIBERTY!

[kimosabe31]

"We were hoping to come today to allow students to see the world from our perspective,"...

Their perspective is better demonstrated at the local bath house. Good for Jerry Falwell for barring these from the campus.

[nmh]

They shouldn't be allowed on private property.

I'm glad he did this.

[BibChr]

10 seconds.

[Dante3]

Do they limit their protest to Christians or do they also protest at Muslim (and other) places?

[BibChr]

Now, I KNOW that THAT one is sarcasm!

[Aarchaeus]

I believe the intent was that unrepentant sinners are not welcome.

These sodomites seem to love their sin more than they love God, man or anything else.

[BibChr]

There y'go. Not rocket science, is it?

[Slings and Arrows]

"This shows you the lengths they are willing to go to to silence people they don't want to hear," said rider David Durand, 26, a graduate of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., who was arrested.

This shows what happens when you trespass on private property, ya maroon.

How do think these PITAs would react if Jerry Falwell had walked into their living rooms and started reading from Leviticus?

[nmh]

It's one thing to be a sinner, however these people want you to EMBRACE their sin and ideally JOIN them in their sin. I distinctly remember Christ saying:

John.8:11

[11] She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

She repented of her sin unlike these people who revel in it. Big difference!

[Scorpius911]

Are you Falwell posting under an assumed handle?

[Echo Talon]

I was wondering how long it would take for someone to say something. It was a parody.

[nmh]

Yeah, all their doing is protesting against God.

Allot of good that'll do them ... .

[BibChr]

Scared me, there.

(c;