seattle police officer
Seattle police shut the event down early out of safety concerns.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community, a group of religious protesters, and Seattle police clashed at a controversial prayer rally held in Seattle’s Cal Anderson Park over Memorial Day weekend.

Roughly 500 religious activists showed up in the historically queer neighborhood of Capitol Hill as part of the "Mayday USA" tour, which is touring five major US cities championing pro-life values and opposition to the LGBTQ+ community.

Greeting them were at least as many counter protesters, waving transgender pride flags and brandishing signs reading “Keep Your Bibles Off Our Bodies.”

Journalists on site documented events:

Perhaps unsurprisingly, by the end of the day nearly two dozen individuals were arrested at the Seattle event, which turned chaotic as violence threatened to erupt multiple times between Mayday supporters and protesters. 

What is Mayday USA?

The five-city Mayday USA tour was largely focused on what they believe is the indoctrination of children into "LGBTQ+ ideology."

The group promoted the event with “#DontMessWithOurKids” branding. At the Seattle event, one might mistake it for a Christian music festival – at least before things turned south. It featured musical performances, prayers, and sermons from group organizers, including one pastor who spoke in tongues.

The Seattle event was organized in part by Matt Shea, former Washington lawmaker turned preacher at On Fire Ministries in Spokane, Washington. You may remember Shea from his manifesto for waging a holy war against Muslims and atheists, and Shea was also in contact with a religious militia teaching young men weapons handling for this very purpose.

Shea’s manifesto endorsed overthrowing the federal government and replacing it with Christian theocracy with bans on abortions and same-sex marriage, as well as "the killing of all males who do not agree."

Escalating Tensions

The event was a powder keg from the beginning.

There were roughly 500 Mayday USA supporters on one side, and an equivalent number of pro-LGBTQ+ protesters on the other, separated only by small police barriers and Seattle PD. With one side spouting anti-trans rhetoric, and the other with dozens clad in the transgender flag, it seemed nearly inevitable that tensions would boil over.

According to Seattle police, at around 1:30, members on the pro-LGBTQ+ of the barrier began throwing items like water bottles at the other group, prompting a swift police response.

"Officers immediately moved to arrest the people responsible, and while taking the individuals into custody, were assaulted by more protesters, resulting in even more arrests," said the Seattle PD in a statement. "In total, officers arrested 11 during the initial scuffle." 12 more were arrested as the day continued.

Meanwhile, activists also filmed the clash:

The event ultimately was shut down a few hours early, by request of Seattle police.

Were Religious Rights Trampled?

The nonprofit group Alliance Defending Freedom is now considering legal action against the city of Seattle and Mayor Bruce Harrell. They say that the city failed to safeguard the civil rights of the Mayday USA crowd, and allege that in failing to protect them, the city stifled both their freedom of speech and freedom of religion. 

Much criticism was lobbed at Harrell, who said the worship group were hoping to “provoke a reaction by promoting beliefs that are inherently opposed to our city’s values, in the heart of Seattle’s most prominent LGBTQ+ neighborhood.” Harrell blamed the tensions on “anarchists” who he says “infiltrated the counter-protestors.”

Russell Johnson, head pastor at the Evangelical church Pursuit NW, accused Harrell of “religious bigotry,” demanding an apology on behalf of the worship group who “were violently assaulted for the high crime of expressing their deeply held religious beliefs in the form of a permitted worship event on city property."

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino even weighed in, confirming that the FBI was investigating potential “targeted violence” towards the Christians.

Mayday USA organizers reject Harrell’s idea they were seeking to promote a reaction. “They say we don’t like people,” said Mayday USA spokesperson Folake Kellogg. “We’re not the ones throwing things. We’re here to love Jesus.”

Plot Thickens

However, the group's decision to broadcast anti-trans rhetoric in a historically gay neighborhood in one of the most progressive cities in the country indicates otherwise, critics say. The group was clearly trying to provoke a reaction, LGBTQ+ rights activists argue. 

During a subsequent rally at City Hall, those same critics took issue when religious organizers appeared to be screening people from access to public property based on religious affiliation:

What is your reaction?

76 comments

  1. Lisa Lake's Avatar Lisa Lake

    Same old heterosexual, cisgendered, white, pretend Christian, colonizer behavior. You're ideology, beliefs, or rights do NOT give you the right to take away someone else's. The LGBTQIA+ community is in a fight for their freedom and their lives.

  1. Rev. Dr. Robin Lynn Frank's Avatar Rev. Dr. Robin Lynn Frank

    This is no different than the 1997 Nazi march in Skokie, IL. While the First Amendment does provide the right to practice ones religious beliefs, it does not provide for the right to intimidate or harass those who do not share that belief. This is not a religious issue. It is nothing more than one group of people attempting to instill fear in those that they hate. while cloaking it under the umbrella of "religious freedom."

  1. James Riggle-Johnson's Avatar James Riggle-Johnson

    Of course, this group chose this area in Seattle to provoke a reaction from the LGBTQ community. The protesters should not have turned violent, but they did, and as a result, they were arrested. Seattle PD acted as necessary. So, how did they fail to protect the Christian group?

    I keep seeing comments on how violent LGBTQ people can be. Well, when you are attacked, beaten, humiliated, and murdered for a century, you learn to fight back. Stop trying to take rights away from one group of people. Stop trying to erase the existence of one group of people. Maybe then we can all live in peace. Christians have been trying to force “indoctrinate” people into their way of living for centuries. It isn’t working.

  1. John C. Myers's Avatar John C. Myers

    Violent Far Left Democrat nut jobs don’t accept any other opinions and will attack free speech with their Auntie Fays facist allies-who ironically claim to be against facists.

    1. Michael Hunt's Avatar Michael Hunt

      We'll if the opinion is that the community a person belongs to is evil, sinful, and a stain on our country that needs to be eliminated from public view, I wouldn't accept that opinion either. And this isn't a free speech issue because freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences. They were given permission by the government to freely express their opinions and the counter protesters then freely expressed their opinions back. I wish it hadn't turned violent, but those who were violent ended up rightfully arrested.

      The Christian group running the event also isn't exactly a peaceful organization either. Per the article, "The Seattle event was organized in part by Matt Shea, former Washington lawmaker turned preacher at On Fire Ministries in Spokane, Washington. You may remember Shea from his manifesto for waging a holy war against Muslims and atheists, and Shea was also in contact with a religious militia teaching young men weapons handling for this very purpose.

      Shea’s manifesto endorsed overthrowing the federal government and replacing it with Christian theocracy with bans on abortions and same-sex marriage, as well as 'the killing of all males who do not agree.'"

      Here's a link to that manifesto: https://www.spokesman.com/documents/2018/oct/25/biblical-basis-war/

  1. Michael G Clifton's Avatar Michael G Clifton

    Desperately needing to publicly celebrate one’s sexual desires and fetishes is nothing to be proud of, especially for a month. Keep it adult, keep it private like respectable human beings.

    1. Patricia Ann Gross's Avatar Patricia Ann Gross

      If it were about sex, then I would agree. It's not. It's about relationships. These relationships include friendships which can lead to romantic love, which [sometimes] involves sex. If I see a heterosexual couple holding hands, my first thought is not "what do they do in the bedroom?" so why is the hetero community so obsessed it? If your first thought at any couple who appear to be romantically involved goes to what type of sex they have, you really need to get your head checked out.

  1. Daniel Todd Kamm's Avatar Daniel Todd Kamm

    I miss things when I ramble...

    Beached Lion, please explain:

    Why is Seattle "a sewer" ?

    Why is there "zero room for coexistence in that environment" ?

    Why if you are not an anarchist or socialist [then] leave...?

    tk

  1. Daniel Todd Kamm's Avatar Daniel Todd Kamm

    And I suppose, Wesley Richard Hunt that you knew that after you called a black drag queen the N-word at a trendy 80's bar back in the day, and she took of her pumps and beat you in the head until you were senseless?

    Or had your mama already done that when she caught you trying on her pumps when you were 10?

    Thanks to Roy and Lawrence for their input, but we do not have "peace officers" in the USA. We have "law enforcement." Which is as far from Andy Griffith as you already know.

    I have participated in many protests both actively and as a trainer and legal observer. There are people on both sides who push the envelope... but which laws are actually enforced in an particular situation is somewhat arbitrary.

    Bad enough we have to deal with the Wesley's ... I promise to pray for you after the trauma you may have endured.

    Peace Out...tk

  1. Lion on the Beach's Avatar Lion on the Beach

    Seattle is a sewer. There is zero room for coexistence in that environment. If you are not an anarchist or socialist than leave, there at great speed.

    1. Michael Hunt's Avatar Michael Hunt

      If Seattle is a sewer, you must have some really nice sewers where you live because it's a beautiful city. Most of the people who live there aren't anarchists or socialists, actually. There's a large coalition of traditional liberals who have the majority of the political power and don't subscribe to more progressive ideals such as socialist policies.

      That said, if they wanted to leave so some socialist policies could be enacted, Seattle would be an even better place to live since there'd be more care for the homeless population to help get them back on their feet resulting in less people on the streets, more people would have access to health care so we'd have a healthier population, public transit could be better funded, lots of improvements could be funded, but no, those things aren't happening now,

  1. Mrknowitall's Avatar Mrknowitall

    No surprise here, the Demonic Homosexual crowd doing what they do best, it's either agree with them or be killed, they're such a loving group !

    1. Michael Hunt's Avatar Michael Hunt

      How many people were killed at this event? Zero? Hmm... Doesn't seem like they want to kill anyone who doesn't agree with them. Seems like they just want Christians to stop coming into their communities and spreading hateful messages about them.

      Meanwhile, just a day ago, gay, Native American actor Jonathan Joss was murdered by his neighbor. They were returning to the site of their home, which had been burnt down after receiving threats for 2 years from people stating that they would burn it down. They had found the skull of their pet and were grieving when a man, allegedly, approached them, yelled homophobic slurs, and then shot at the couple, killing Joss. Despite the constant threats, Texas police did nothing to address them and are so far refusing to call this a hate crime, seemingly contradicting Joss' partner's statement by saying "... currently the investigation has found no evidence to indicate that the Mr Joss's murder was related to his sexual orientation."

      https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3rp3n54d98o

  1. Wesley Richard Hunt's Avatar Wesley Richard Hunt

    Its a known fact that LGBT are violent.

    1. Patricia Ann Gross's Avatar Patricia Ann Gross

      Wrong, LGBTQIA++ individuals are more likely to be the victims than the perpetrators of crimes. Most of the ones I know are quite peace-loving individuals.

  1. Roy S. Thorpe's Avatar Roy S. Thorpe

    All groups have the right to peaceful assembly! The catch word is peaceful ! If either gets out of peaceful then a peace officer has to step in!

    1. Lawrence A. Benson's Avatar Lawrence A. Benson

      I couldn't agree more. As an ex-police commander, I know from personal experience that although we have to allow people to express their constitutional rights to "peaceful" protest/demonstration, we have to maintain law and order and the safety of the public.

  1. Brian Patrick Molloy's Avatar Brian Patrick Molloy

    We are all children of the same universe . ✝️

  1. Daniel Gray's Avatar Daniel Gray

    As long as they had the proper permits, they could go there. The KKK has shown up in a Jewish neighborhood in Chicago for a parade and a rally and this went all the way to the Ill Supreme Court and the courts ruled that again, as long as they had the proper permits then like it or not they were allowed to do this.

    So if the LGBTQ people caused a fuss or arrests to be made, then they should be held responsible.

    Just remember, love them or hate them, they have the same rights as you do.

    1. ServantOfJudgement's Avatar ServantOfJudgement

      Fully agree Daniel. That said they ought not have picked a flight. Someone could have and eventually will be shot or stabbed or clubbed. We're not supposed to cause agitation or bring anarchy.

      Going into a neighborhood filled with people willing to kill over ideology is something good Christians must avoid.

      1. Matthew Mastrogiovanni's Avatar Matthew Mastrogiovanni

        Christians have a long history of killing over ideology: The Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, The Witch Trials and so much more.

        1. Michael G Clifton's Avatar Michael G Clifton

          The Crusades were the result of Christians being persecuted, murdered and enslaved by Islamist radicals. Read up on your history.

      2. Michael Hunt's Avatar Michael Hunt

        If they wanted to kill these people over their ideology, why didn't they? It's not like it's hard to get guns and ammo in America. If they actually wanted to do this, why wasn't this event a mass shooting? Could it be that they actually don't want to kill people with different ideology, they just don't want people saying hateful things about them in their neighborhood? Could it be that you're projecting your hate of the left onto liberals so that lefties become the evil villain in your worldview which therefore justifies your evil actions against them? Questions to think about...

        1. Robert James Ruhnke's Avatar Robert James Ruhnke

          these are the types of cowards who wait for an “open season” clause passed to them by the government of their forming.

        2. Wesley Richard Hunt's Avatar Wesley Richard Hunt

          Lefties are evil

          1. Michael Hunt's Avatar Michael Hunt

            Really? What makes us evil?

  1. ServantOfJudgement's Avatar ServantOfJudgement

    The Bible is pretty dang clear about this sort of thing. Christians are not to follow a mob or mob mentality. They're not to go out looking for a fight or pick fights. Christians are not to behave as the people who's neighborhood they invaded. Dare I say I doubt the authenticity of their Christianity as much as I doubt the left's so called "inclusiveness and love" authenticity.

    Matt Shea knew they were going to be in the neighborhood of antichrists and anarchists who will always resort to violence. The left is willing to burn down their own neighborhoods and kill people. The false teacher put his flock in harms way, potentially a fatal situation.

    The Bible says Jesus does not approve and this will have saved exactly zero souls and changed zero minds.

  1. Robin Anne Hannon's Avatar Robin Anne Hannon

    It is neither Christian nor harmless to stage a hate campaign against LGBTQ people in their own neighborhood. This is their home, and their sanctuary. I wonder how these nutjobs would feel if the LGBTQ population went into their neighborhood and burned bibles, or promoted other anti-Christian ideals. What happened to love thy neighbor as thyself?

  1. Nicholas J Page's Avatar Nicholas J Page

    The Gay community is being attacked once again these are not church people.Because Jesus loves everyone not just a select few .

    1. Matthew Mastrogiovanni's Avatar Matthew Mastrogiovanni

      Jesus doesn't say a single word about homosexuality.

      1. ServantOfJudgement's Avatar ServantOfJudgement

        The Bible does and the bible says what it says Jesus says. You can say the Bible is fake but you can't say the bible(Jesus) doesn't talk about homosexual relationships.

        1. Matthew Mastrogiovanni's Avatar Matthew Mastrogiovanni

          Jesus brought a new covenant in the the New Testament and there is no mention of homosexuality in the Gospels.

          If you want to site the Old Testament, then you also need to call for T.A.C.O. to be stoned to death for adultery. To allow immigrants into the US, and to clothe, house and feed them. Also, abortion is to be allowed as the Old Testament does not provide explicit commands or prohibitions regarding the practice.

          It's all or nothing. No cherry picking.

          1. Wesley Richard Hunt's Avatar Wesley Richard Hunt

            So quit your cherry picking

            1. Matthew Mastrogiovanni's Avatar Matthew Mastrogiovanni

              First, what cherry picking am I doing? Secondly, I'm a neo-pagan, not a Christian.

  1. John W's Avatar John W

    Hmm, stage an anti-LBGTQ+ event in an area with a large LBGTQ+ population and think that your actions will be ignored or you will not cause a negative reaction. Sorry charlie, ya wave a cape in front of a bull, that bull is eventually gonna charge at you no matter how harmless you think your actions are. I'm not too big of a fan of folks that spew hatred in the name of their particular religious beliefs. Singer Elvis Costello said it best in that we need more "peace, love and understanding".

  1. John P Maher's Avatar John P Maher

    IGNORANCE SEEMS TO BE THE GREATEST GIFT THE CHRISTIANS GOT FROM THIER WONDERFUL GOD !

    1. Matthew Mastrogiovanni's Avatar Matthew Mastrogiovanni

      Nope ... hate.

    2. Patricia Ann Gross's Avatar Patricia Ann Gross

      John P Maher,

      Please be careful. Not all Christians think the same way. In fact, most Christians I know don't believe what the "bully pulpit" has been teaching. Nobody can claim to know the mind or thinking of God when he made us each so differently. What we all need to do is start looking at what makes us similar rather than how we are different. We might all be surprised. For some reason, the right-wing conservative bible literalists have the loudest voices right now, and that's all anybody hears.

  1. Robert Gagnon's Avatar Robert Gagnon

    Two radical factions clash, nothing new there. The God squad is obviously looking for a fight going to their perceived enemy's back yard. Best response would be let them babble in tongues (which I find amusing) bring popcorn and enjoy the show, or just ignore them. But, the opposing group just had to turn Rainbow warrior, flags and all. This turned clowns into a legitimate victim. Thank-you for giving them what they wanted. Personally I don't see why a city with these demographics would issue a permit to a group that sounds this radical. Talking about killing people l that don't agree is terrorist doctrine and has no place on public display.

    1. ServantOfJudgement's Avatar ServantOfJudgement

      You're right Robert, the claiming Christians should not have picked a fight.

      We have our 1st amendment which forces municipalities to honor that right.

      All done in poor form and God gains zero ground from anarchists claiming to be Christian.

      1. Wesley Richard Hunt's Avatar Wesley Richard Hunt

        Who attacked who.

  1. Colleen McAllister's Avatar Colleen McAllister

    The religious group was obviously holding this prayer rally to target the neghborhood. They were basically asking for trouble. The LGBTQ+ group had the right to protest. Neither side had the right for violence. I long for the day when people stay out of other people's sex lives.

    1. Matthew Mastrogiovanni's Avatar Matthew Mastrogiovanni

      Conservatives are OBSESSED with what is in peoples pants and what they do with it.

      1. ServantOfJudgement's Avatar ServantOfJudgement

        That's why we have lbtqia++ parades in June? Because conservatives want to know how people prefer sex?

        1. Michael Hunt's Avatar Michael Hunt

          We have Pride parades in June to celebrate the community's ability to be public about their relationships, just like straight couples can, and to celebrate their fight for equal rights and those who paved the trail before them. Conservatives are the ones who jump right to envisioning same-sex couples engaging in sex. When I see a Pride parade, I don't think, "I wonder what those two men do during sex" I think, "what a sweet couple" and, "I'm glad these people can be themselves without having the fear of violence like those of the past did."

        2. Matthew Mastrogiovanni's Avatar Matthew Mastrogiovanni

          Bill Clinton who first officially recognized Pride Month at the national level in 1999. A democrat, not a republican. Conservative policies often oppose LGBTQ+ rights under the banner of religious freedom or traditional values. Commonly supported measures include restrictions on marriage equality, with efforts to overturn or limit the recognition of same-sex marriages. Some conservative legislators back laws banning gender-affirming care for transgender individuals, particularly minors, citing concerns about medical ethics and long-term effects. Additionally, they advocate for limits on transgender participation in sports, arguing it ensures fairness for cisgender athletes.

          Conservatives also push for laws preventing discussions of LGBTQ+ topics in schools, often labeled as protecting parental rights or preserving age-appropriate education. Religious exemptions in anti-discrimination laws allow businesses and institutions to refuse services to LGBTQ+ individuals based on faith beliefs. While these policies are framed as preserving cultural or religious norms. They perpetuate discrimination and harm LGBTQ+ communities by undermining their legal protections and social inclusion.

          1. Wesley Richard Hunt's Avatar Wesley Richard Hunt

            WRONG

            1. Matthew Mastrogiovanni's Avatar Matthew Mastrogiovanni

              With sources, please cite the things that I said are wrong.

  1. Najah P Tamargo's Avatar Najah P Tamargo

    Najah Tamargo-USA

    If a group of "Christians" deliberately show up at a peaceful LGBTQ+ rally to spew bigotry and hatered....who were the real terrorists??? Doesn't really show what Jesus teachings were all about....love, peace and acceptence.

    1. ServantOfJudgement's Avatar ServantOfJudgement

      Your half right Najah. These guys were not following the teachings of The Christ. He does not want his own to behave like the people that started fighting.

      Jesus taught choosing things God chooses. He didn't teach acceptance blindly or unconditionally. "Your sins are forgiven, sin no more". That's not unconditional friend. That's strings attached.

      Shall we forgive Trump for giving us the poisonous jab when he shows no remorse for it? Do you love and accept President Trump? If not, you should reconsider repeating that pioused platitude.

      1. Matthew Mastrogiovanni's Avatar Matthew Mastrogiovanni

        God teaches, love your neighbor as yourself. That's all your neighbors, gay, black, pagan or Democratic. God also teaches to let him be the judge, not you.

        1. ServantOfJudgement's Avatar ServantOfJudgement

          What if I'm pretty hard on myself Mathew? What if I'm a masochist? If I like getting hurt and abused should I do that to everyone? If I beat the heck out of myself should I do that to others?

          That's what happens when we quote a document we have no understanding of.

          As far as not judging people, the entire spectrum of left has judged President Trump and Vice President Vance. All and every single left thinking person has violated the doctrine they tell the right to follow.

          Judge not unless I judge?

          By the way, God teaches consequences for actions he hates.

          1. Michael Hunt's Avatar Michael Hunt

            Many of those left thinking people do not follow the doctrine of the Bible so they wouldn't be beholden to it's rules but many of those on the right do claim to follow the doctrine of the Bible but break many of its rules. Left thinking people are pointing out the hypocrisy of the right who claim the moral high ground because of their religion.

  1. Matthew Mastrogiovanni's Avatar Matthew Mastrogiovanni

    Your beliefs are yours and yours alone. No one has any right to impose their beliefs on anyone else. This action is no different then having a Nazi rally in Israel. As such, this should be deemed a hate crime and the Catholic church declared a hate group.

    1. Patricia Ann Gross's Avatar Patricia Ann Gross

      Who said they were Catholics? Some non-denominational right-wing churches and denominations are more homophobic than the Catholics.

      1. Matthew Mastrogiovanni's Avatar Matthew Mastrogiovanni

        Here are the only denominations that are pro-LBGTQ:

        Episcopal Church (USA) - Ordains openly LGBTQ+ clergy and performs same-sex marriages. They've been among the most progressive on LGBTQ+ issues since the 1970s. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) - Allows ordination of LGBTQ+ clergy and permits same-sex marriages, though individual congregations may vary in practice. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) - Ordains LGBTQ+ clergy in committed relationships and allows blessing of same-sex unions, with many congregations performing same-sex marriages. United Church of Christ - One of the first denominations to ordain an openly gay minister (1972) and has been consistently affirming for decades.

        The rest need to go.

        1. Patricia Ann Gross's Avatar Patricia Ann Gross

          You can now add the United Methodist Church to this list. They recently came into the 21st Century.

    2. Wesley Richard Hunt's Avatar Wesley Richard Hunt

      hahahahaha

  1. Reverend Paula Copp's Avatar Reverend Paula Copp

    Let me get this right… a virulent rightwing nutjob christian organization goes into a known LGBTQ+ community to berate and degrade them for being what god made them, and they DON’T think they’re being provocative? Yeah, ok. One more time for the folks in the back… homosexuality is NOT A CHOICE. Nobody CHOOSES to be gay, especially when many people are ignorant bigots.

    1. Stephanie A Willey's Avatar Stephanie A Willey

      You're correct, sexuality and fundamental identity (gender) are NOT a choice. However ignorance and bigotry most certainly ARE a choice.

    2. Matthew Mastrogiovanni's Avatar Matthew Mastrogiovanni

      I agree 100%

    3. Katelynne Shouse's Avatar Katelynne Shouse

      One day that Christofascist Nut Job is going to get himself......🪦

      1. ServantOfJudgement's Avatar ServantOfJudgement

        You're right about that Katelynne. The left has demonstrate to the point of trust that they will kill. You can rely on it. The left has zero issue with killing for ideology.

        1. Matthew Mastrogiovanni's Avatar Matthew Mastrogiovanni

          You got your directions backwards.

          1. ServantOfJudgement's Avatar ServantOfJudgement

            Not so Matthew, Katelynne here just made my case. She said the preacher will get deadman syndrome if he keeps going to lgbtqia++ neighborhoods.

            I agree.

            1. Matthew Mastrogiovanni's Avatar Matthew Mastrogiovanni

              Since 2016, data from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) indicates that right-wing extremists, particularly white supremacists, have been responsible for the majority of extremist-related murders in the United States. This trend has been consistent across multiple years:

              2017: Right-wing extremists were responsible for 59% of extremist-related fatalities, with white supremacists accounting for 18 of the 34 deaths that year.

              2018: All extremist-related murders were linked to the far right, marking the highest number of such killings since 1995.

              2019: Right-wing extremists accounted for 76% of all domestic extremist-related killings over the past decade.

              2022: All 25 extremist-related murders were committed by right-wing extremists, with white supremacists responsible for 21 of those deaths.

              2023: Right-wing extremism was linked to all extremist murders in the U.S., including notable incidents in Allen, Texas, and Jacksonville, Florida.

              These findings highlight a persistent pattern of lethal violence associated with right-wing extremism, particularly white supremacist ideologies, in recent years.

              1. Wesley Richard Hunt's Avatar Wesley Richard Hunt

                You lie

              2. Michael Hunt's Avatar Michael Hunt

                Surely you have evidence to prove that these statements are all lies, right?

    4. ServantOfJudgement's Avatar ServantOfJudgement

      I know a guy that chose dudes cause he couldn't get a chick to get busy with.

      If you're suggesting that sexual orientation is binary and never a choice, you've violated the lgbtqia++ non binary stance.

      Some may not be choice and some may be choice.

      1. Matthew Mastrogiovanni's Avatar Matthew Mastrogiovanni

        There's a term called situational homosexuality. When there's no one of the opposite sex available, (such as your friend, prisoners, sorority girls, and red pill dudes) people turn to what's available until the situation changes.

        1. Reverend Paula Copp's Avatar Reverend Paula Copp

          In jail/prison, the saying is “gay for the stay.” However, under everyday circumstances those people don’t consider themselves gay. Survival methods vary…

      2. Ari Joseph Bertine's Avatar Ari Joseph Bertine

        With someone who isn't in prison, I'd call it "bisexuality". That's a thing. People keep forgetting it's a sexuality. You got it half right, it is non-binary. There's this thing called "the Kinsey Scale" that is a tool for defining sexuality for research purposes. There are 7 points on this scale, as follows:

        0 Exclusively heterosexual 1 Predominantly heterosexual, only incidentally homosexual 2 Predominantly heterosexual, but more than incidentally homosexual 3 Equally heterosexual and homosexual 4 Predominantly homosexual, but more than incidentally heterosexual 5 Predominantly homosexual, only incidentally heterosexual 6 Exclusively homosexual X No socio-sexual contacts or reactions

        If your acquaintance prefers women but decided to go after men because of a lack of women, all it takes is a 1 on the Kinsey scale, but everything between 0 and 6 is bisexual. It's like you can't call yourself a vegan if you'll eat a beef burger if there are no black bean burgers available, but you're not a carnivore either.

        Of course, the idea that sexuality is a choice is very weird, but if one insists on forgetting that bisexual people exist, I can see how one might leap to that conclusion. Bisexuality is as inborn as homosexuality or heterosexuality. It's simply the part of the spectrum between the extreme ends. Some people explore that actively, other people may never discover it or may not feel a need to explore it if they happen to know. One of my friends is a bisexual who is in a devoted homosexual marriage, so while she might be attracted to a man if she was single, it's a moot point since she's married and loves her wife. That doesn't make her a lesbian, it makes her a settled bisexual.

  1. Rev. MichaelRS's Avatar Rev. MichaelRS

    No. There was not two groups of protesters that clashed.

    There was a one group holding a permitted gathering in a public park, the very definition of a " traditional public forum" under the 1st Amendment, when groups protesting them showed up and began to harass them.

    These included the LARPing ninjas known as Antifa,l and those that color, if not style, their hair in the fashion of the Joker.

    The Christian group was in one location holding their event when those other groups came to them.

    If they did not like the message all they had to do was not be there.

    1. Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox's Avatar Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox

      The better idea would have been for the kkkristians to not try to indoctrinate, groom, and divide the community. What Would Jesus Do? He would not do what those who purport to believe in him did. There’s no love like christian hate.

      1. ServantOfJudgement's Avatar ServantOfJudgement

        Jesus would have chided both groups and then both groups would crucify him.

    2. Patricia Ann Gross's Avatar Patricia Ann Gross

      Rev. MichaeRS,

      Would you feel the same way if a group came into your neighborhood (permit or not) spouting anti-[something you are passionately for]? This is akin to people dressed in white robes and pointed hoods carrying burning crosses coming into a mostly Black neighborhood. What did they expect to happen? I don't care who you are, don't come into my home neighborhood insisting that I am less than human. People have a right to feel safe in their own neighborhoods.

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