Posted on 05/24/2009 3:56:01 AM PDT by Man50D
A campus evangelism group is stunned today, as a ministry event at a community college in Ohio resulted in four members being arrested, one on a felony assault charge that the ministry's leader claims is fabricated.
"I've done ministries like this at more than 200 universities," said Jason Storms, director of Faithful Soldier School of Evangelism, a ministry of Mercy Seat Christian Church in Milwaukee, Wis. "We train people to do evangelism, and I have never seen an incident like this."
Storms and a team of students earlier this week traveled to Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio, with signs, literature and a message of faith.
When they arrived, however, a student complaint led campus police to confront the evangelism team and demand that their signs and literature be put away in accordance with college policy. When two of the evangelists refused the order, however, insisting their materials were protected by the freedom of speech guaranteed in the First Amendment, the officers arrested them on charges of disorderly conduct.
"There are many times when police hassle us and intimidate or bully us on campus, and usually we stand them down and are successful in defending our rights to freedom of speech," Storms told WND. "I can count on one hand the number of times we've had an arrest situation."
Later in the afternoon, however, two more arrests followed, one on a now-disputed felony charge of striking a police officer.
(Excerpt) Read more at worldnetdaily.com ...
It’s starting, for real.
With all due respect to Mr Storms the College had allowed them on their property and had spoken to them about signs etc prior to them coming on campus. Surely they should have shown those in charge of the University some respect in regards to their wishes. They were allowed to speak and interact with students as is their right.
Your University Security seem to have a lot more powers than ours here in Australia - I only have the power under these circumstances to ask and then if people do not comply I have to call the real Police as I can only make an arrest for infractions of State felony law and not for having my instructions disobeyed - yours seem to have too much power for a rent a cop.
Mel
From your post: “why would a group of people from Milwaukee travel to Dayton, Ohio to show up on some rinky dink community college? Something just doesn’t add up. Between Dayton and Milwaukee there must be 100 schools.”
It doesn’t add up because you didn’t read the article very well. From the article:
“I’ve done ministries like this at more than 200 universities,”
They’ve probably already been to your 100 ministries between there and Dayton and had every right to go to that “rinky dink” school as well. Discrimination based on the content of one’s speech has been deemed unconstitutional by the SCOTUS time and time again, yet moronic University police and the snobs who run these schools are too stupid to listen. If it were conservatives spreading their message with signs like the one’s seen at tea parties, would you be so quick to think they’re wacko’s for even being there. I bet you’d be irked that their free speech rights were violated simply based on their opinions and world view. It’s getting flat scary in this country.
The light you refer to is definitely on.
And it’s shining on you.
Evidently the event was precipitated by students who actually attend the school complaining to security about the Christian Soldier's methods.
And...?
You wrote:
“It’s starting, for real.”
This sort of thing has happened in the past too. What is most troubling to me is that a student “complained” about the signs and literature. The anti-Christian crowd is bigger and bolder than they once were.
It’s a public college.
“Operated by the Montgomery County Community College District, Sinclair was established by the voters of the county. Revenues are derived from tax levies approved by the voters of Montgomery County, the State of Ohio, and fees paid by students. Capital funds are received from state grants and appropriations. The Sinclair Foundation raises funds from individuals, organizations and corporations to support scholarships and special educational projects.”
Duh.
Demonstration at Sinclair ends in 4 arrests
Charles Gift, director of public safety for Sinclair Community College, said campus police received a call about noon from a student who said demonstrators were disturbing her.
From A post at the Dayton Daily News site: Cantwell v. Connecticut, 310 U.S. 296 (1940) Speech may not be prohibited merely because it offends some listeners.
Forsyth County vs. The Nationalist Movement, 112 S. Ct. 2395 (1992) A city may not consider the listeners reactions to a speaker when permitting free speech activities.
Cox v. Lousiana, 379 U.S. 536 (1965) Hecklers may not be allowed to veto a speakers free speech. Police must control a crowd rather than arrest the speaker in order to maintain order.
I have no doubt of the outcome.
Thought so.
Hmmmm...I’m sorry but that sends out a big red flag to me.
Well said.
You and jason need to read that book on how to win friends and influence people.
How quaint.
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