Men Arrested for Carrying Crosses at Gay Day Event
On May 8, at the county’s “Gay Day” event in Dayton, Tennessee, police arrested two Christians as they were fastening the beams of one of their ten-foot crosses, which they often use in parades around the nation in order to draw people to Christ.
“Gay Day” Parade Seeks Retribution
In March, the Rhea County Commission had instituted a complete ban on homosexuality, which was rescinded after only two days. In an act of retribution, roughly 400 homosexuals from around the nation descended upon the town of 6,200.
Christians Denied Freedom of Speech
According to officials within the Rhea County Jail, police officers asked several Christian demonstrators to leave the event. Eight of the demonstrators left quietly, but Brian Charles O’Connell of Crystal River, Florida, and Michael Joseph Siemer of Chattanooga, Tennessee, defended their right to evangelize. Without incident, they were arrested and charged with “disorderly conduct” and “interfering with a special event.”
They were both freed after posting the required $500 bond, and they must appear before a judge this Friday.
“This is the first time I have been arrested for being a Christian,” noted Seimer. “I think it is a really bad thing that we can be arrested for expressing our views.”
Dayton Police Chief Kenneth Walker admitted to reporters, “They wanted to go down to protest, and we told them they couldn’t. They were arrested; that’s it.”
Take Action!
To voice your concerns to Rhea County Commission, please write or call:
Rhea County Commission
1475 North Market Street
County Courthouse
Dayton, TN 37321-1267
(423) 775-7801
Source List:
“Two Men Preparing to Carry Crosses Charged with Disorderly Conduct,” The Tennessean, May 9, 2004.
http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/04/05/51062556.shtml?Element_ID=51062556
“Gay Day Provoked by Tennessee County's Gay Ban,” CNN News, May 8, 2004.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/South/05/08/gay.day.ap/
