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.
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.
These gay activist seem so tolerant and accepting of those who don't see the world the way they do... /sarcasm off
Yes, some of us refuse to leave New York just because the lunatics who are currently running this asylum won't last forever.......and the truth always sets you free eventually.
The other main reason is once you get out of the city and long island, the rest of the state is pretty conservative, both in its' views and its' politics.
“Shut it down! Shut it down!” .....Get behind me satan....
When did riot police stop wearing riot gear?
I guess near-riot police wear near-riot yellow reflective jackets to stop those near-riot... what were those crazy fags hurling at people? Words? Scary.
I guess you don't remember what happened in Philadelphia earlier this year. Those "fags" you defend so readily couldn't tolerate peaceful Christians protesting outside one of their orgies, er parades, and the police arrested the protesters for "ethnic intimidation," a hate crime.
I despise hate crime legislation, but if homosexuals are intimidating Christians at their place of worship, then they should be charged with hate crimes as well.
You apparently haven't seen these people in action! I have, and trust me, you don't want to. The only instance which comes to mind that could compare, is prisoners, and what they do in anger toward guards.
If anyone thinks they don't target kids, check out the sign that says "Don't assume you kids are straight"
Well you assume the near-rioters were all homosexuals -more than likely they were not all homosexuals -they were a combination of misinformed, ignorant, geneuinely misled, morally corrupt, and or morally inept homosexual and heterosexual alike.
You are quite welcome to read beyond the article, in between the lines and ascertain your own version of reality; however, when you divine facts that but support homosexual agenda talking points I myself consider you more than soothsayer and something akin to a propagandist but supporting the near-rioters with nothing but your faulty convictions and talking points guiding you despite the reality...
The other main reason is once you get out of the city and long island, the rest of the state is pretty conservative, both in its' views and its' politics.
Yeah, I grew up in Upstate NY, live in VA now. You'd be surprised how liberal Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse are. Besides, you're nuts, and I say that affectionately, LOL, if you think that all the people in NYC with their hands out are going to vote against those interests.
I heard a stat a number of years ago that said that 7/8 of everyone in NYC was on some form of public assistance. Now I'm not sure what that meant, probably included free subway passes from work via the local government or something ridiculous, but we both know that a LOT of folks are on the dole down there and that there are too many morons that don't think for themselves and are pocket Dem votes in every election. That kind of stuff cannot be avoided in huge metro areas and even medium sized ones at times.
Besides, people are leaving the state in droves and they're not liberals I'm guessing. LOL There's a huge demographical shift to the South now. Maybe in 30 years you'll be right, but until then... I've wanted nothing more than to move back, but can't bring myself to do it due to the heavy taxes and liberal politics.
I have a family member that pays more in taxes on his home which is valued in the mid-100s than we and our friends do down here in VA on homes over twice that price easily. The state makes it tough to live there, that's why everyone's leaving. "Traditional Americans", of all races, are also leaving CA in droves.
Great point! It's like the blacks blasting other blacks if they're conservative. Odd how some groups demand "DRINK THE KOOL-AID!"
This is nauseating. Whose business is it other than your own if you make changes in your life?
Further, aren't we always told by libs that homos are "so nice" and "good, gentle people," and "my best friends" are homosexual? Gag!
And what is this "gay" crap? They're homosexuals. What are heterosexuals, "sad?"
PC garbage!
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