Difference between revisions of "Hamilton Square Baptist Church Riot"

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{{cquote|Although the two-hour protest received scant attention locally, Innis buttressed his campaign and the police investigation with videotape shot by a member of his congregation. The tape shows demonstrators jostling members entering the church, engaging in a brief shoving match with outnumbered police officers and trying to kick open a side door.}}  
 
{{cquote|Although the two-hour protest received scant attention locally, Innis buttressed his campaign and the police investigation with videotape shot by a member of his congregation. The tape shows demonstrators jostling members entering the church, engaging in a brief shoving match with outnumbered police officers and trying to kick open a side door.}}  
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San Francisco Police Captain Rich Cairnes stated said he was dismayed when he saw the videotape and stated the following:
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{{cquote|It sort of amazed me watching the film that it got to that level," Cairnes said. "I was upset that it did get that far . . . that the rights of people going to church should be attacked. That's one of our basic freedoms in this country. And it's something that just won't be tolerated again.}}
  
 
Pastor Innes told ''Christianity Today'' that he does not blame the San Francisco police but those in political power especially the board of supervisors. Innes stated, "You really can't compare San Francisco with any other city. Homosexual advocates infiltrate
 
Pastor Innes told ''Christianity Today'' that he does not blame the San Francisco police but those in political power especially the board of supervisors. Innes stated, "You really can't compare San Francisco with any other city. Homosexual advocates infiltrate

Revision as of 19:24, July 10, 2007

The documentary film A Nation Adrift chronicles some of the events that took place during the Hamilton Square Baptist Church riot in San Francisco on the date of September 19, 1993 in which a angry group of male homosexuals and lesbians vandalized church property, assaulted church members, terrorized church congregants, screamed profanity, threw rocks, harrassed and scared children, and disrupted a church service.[1][2] [3][4] During the riot the rioters pounded on the church doors and attempted to kick them down. When the rioters saw church children standing in the lobby, they shouted "We want your children. Give us your children." [5] During the riot an eight year old mentally handicapped girl was verbally accosted when exiting through the front entrance of the church and was so traumatized that she fell down the church steps.[6] In addition, a nine year old boy, was hysterically crying and said "They are after me. It's me they want." The nine year old boy did not calm down until the family was several miles from the building.[7] In addition, according to Pastor David Innes, Senior Pastor of Hamilton Square Baptist church, the protesters denied people entrance to the church and in some cases did it by physical contact. [8]

The day of the riot was the day Reverend Louis Sheldon, of the Traditional Values Coalition, was a guest speaker.[9] Only the church's membership and regular attenders were notified of the service, through the church's bulletin. No public notice or invitation was made in regards to the guest speaker. [10] However, the September 16, 1993 edition of the Bay Area Reporter, the meeting was made public in a front page article using inflammatory language. [11] In addition, two homosexual newspapers called for a protest. [12] The church received telephone calls prior to the Reverend Sheldon's arrival demanding that he should not come and threatening to disrupt the service. [13][14] In addition, two people visited the church and told a church employee that the church could not have Reverend Sheldon as a guest speaker at the church and that they were going to stop it from happening.[15]

The church believes that the police department acted poorly during the riot. According to the church, "In spite of all this malicious disruption, not a single arrest was made by police outside of one citizen's arrest. The church's property was not secured, and the fundamental rights of the worshippers were not protected because, we were told, "The Board of Supervisors would never support the measures necessary to do so."" [16]

Some of the details of the September 19, 1993 event are disputed. Noah Griffin, a spokesperson for the San Francisco mayor's office, stated that "No police officer in San Francisco would stand by while someone trying to enter a church is assaulted." [17] However, Pastor Innes told Christianity Today that "We stand by everything in the news release. We put nothing in it that cannot be verified with video, eyewitnesses, and pictures." [18] In addition, the following was reported in the 28 October 28, 1993 edition of The San Francisco Chronicle:


“ Although the two-hour protest received scant attention locally, Innis buttressed his campaign and the police investigation with videotape shot by a member of his congregation. The tape shows demonstrators jostling members entering the church, engaging in a brief shoving match with outnumbered police officers and trying to kick open a side door. ”

San Francisco Police Captain Rich Cairnes stated said he was dismayed when he saw the videotape and stated the following:


“ It sort of amazed me watching the film that it got to that level," Cairnes said. "I was upset that it did get that far . . . that the rights of people going to church should be attacked. That's one of our basic freedoms in this country. And it's something that just won't be tolerated again. ”

Pastor Innes told Christianity Today that he does not blame the San Francisco police but those in political power especially the board of supervisors. Innes stated, "You really can't compare San Francisco with any other city. Homosexual advocates infiltrate and dominate the political structures here. Police are in straitjackets. They can't do their job. They've been instructed not to arrest homosexuals."[19] Griffin responded by saying that "The gist of the phone calls we've been receiving is that police do not do anything because of the gay voting bloc in this city. That simply is not true." [20] Pastor Innes countered though by citing a letter written by a 25 year veteran of the San Francisco police force which was published in a September 30, 1993 edition of the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper. [21] In police officers letter, the officer describes a recent assignment regarding keeping things under control at the San Francisco's Folsom Street Fair. [22] According to the letter the officer described, the fair included food and craft booths, but "appeared to have as its main theme a public display of the private sexual practices and preferences of consenting adults." [23] The officer described seeing totally naked male couples publically engaging in lewd sex.[24] The officer in his letter stated that he was "highly embarrassed" when people asked him he was not making any arrests. [25] The officer stated that "At least a dozen times I had to painstakingly explain that we were to take a position of 'high tolerance' and not to create an incident." [26]

Christianity Today also reported the following regarding the incident:

“ Although Sheldon has had his home painted with graffiti and his office littered with manure by radical homosexuals, this is the first time he was targeted at a church. According to Peter LaBarbera, editor of the Lambda Report, a California-based newsletter that monitors the homosexual movement, the incident represents a trend toward increased militancy among homosexual activists.[27] ”

Post Riot Public and Press Reaction

After the riot, there was a local news blackout regarding the riot among the local press according to David C. Innes who is the senior pastor of Hamilton Square Baptist Church.[28] However, news of the attack on Hamilton Square Baptist Church spread fast across Christian radio and television and a audio tape of the rioters seeking to break down the church doors was played in thousands of churches. [29] Thousands of calls came pouring into the offices of San Francisco's Board of Supervisors and coverage by the Christian Broadcast Network broadcast were major factors in ending the local news blackout concerning the riot.[30] In addition, according to Pastor Innes, "Foreign embassies were notified of the incident. What began as an attack upon a church under cover of a news blackout became a "shot heard around the world"."[31]

An executive from a large multinational corporation called the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau and informed the bureau that the corporation he represents made a decision not to bring conventions utilizing 30,000 hotel rooms to the city because of the city's failure to protect the Hamilton Square Baptist Church.[32] In addition, after the riot Christian groups threatened to boycott San Francisco.[33]

Three days after the riot, Mayor Frank Jordan, the Chief of Police, and a representative from the District Attorney's office assured the church that a another event like the riot would not be permitted.[34] However, according to Pastor Innes, "Meanwhile, the Board of Supervisors with one or two exceptions has to this day stonewalled, denying that anything illegal or inappropriate had ever happened." [35] Thus, according to Pastor Innes, "To protest the Board of Supervisors denial of any wrongdoing as well as their approval and blessing upon those who rioted against the Church, a Freedom Rally was held on Monday, November 8." [36] The Freedom Rally brought 400 plus pastors and laymen from across the United States and represented over sixty thousand churches.[37] According to Pastor Innes police protection was superb during the Freedom Rally.[38] The major newspapers and news networks covered the Freedom Rally and according to Pastor Innes most of the coverage was favorable. Even the San Francisco Chronicle which had refused to cover the story earlier condemned the attack on the church and wrote in a editorial: "The demonstrators at Hamilton Square Baptist Church endangered not only their own cause but the cause of freedom itself."[39]

After the riot, a meeting was held in the chambers of the Board of Supervisors. Local television news cameras and the Christian Broadcasting Network recorded the meeting.[40]

According to Pastor Innes the following took place at the meeting:


“ Soon after three o'clock in the afternoon, time was given to speak to the issue of the riot at the church. Speakers alternated, pro and con. When Dr. Lou Sheldon stood at the podium to speak, a major confrontation broke out. The homosexuals and lesbians attempted to deny Dr. Sheldon his right to speak. It was only after several minutes and a threat to clear the chambers that he was able to address the Supervisors. After he spoke, he was assaulted by a man in the front row who spat on him. Eight or ten police officers swiftly entered the chambers, dragged the man out of the room and arrested him.

Shortly thereafter, the pastor of the Hamilton Square Baptist Church, Dr. David C. Innes was intentionally denied his turn to present his complaint to the Supervisors. Supervisor Terrance Hallinan, the one who has described the churches' moral teachings as "an abomination", made a parliamentary move on behalf of Supervisor Migden that cut off discussion of the matter. (Dr. Innes was going to give the homosexual flag back to Supervisor Migden, a gesture that would have been extremely embarrassing to her) [a homosexual flag had been run up the church flag pole during the riot and removed by a church employee. The homosexual flag was run up the flag pole again during the riot and when a church employee tried to remove it he was assaulted and pushed back].[41][42]

”

In addition, Carl Herbster, Pastor of Tri-City Baptist Church in Kansas City, Missouri, stated at the Board of Supervisors meeting: "Your city is known worldwide now as a city that is not willing to protect religious freedom." [43]Herbster also told the Board of supervisors that in regards to San Francisco "major corporations are considering canceling their reservations for conventions because of what took place."[44]

Pastor Innes made the following commentary what happened on the date of September 21, 1993 a day in which a speaker spoke at their church with substantial police presence protecting the church:


“ On Sunday night, November 21, Dr. Lou Sheldon was invited back to speak along with Mr. John Paulk, a homosexual who has been gloriously saved by the grace and power of God...

The victory was sweet. The police had sent the homosexual-lesbian activists the message that they would not tolerate further violence against the churches of the city, and the leaders of the homosexual community put the protestors on notice that they were not to further the public relations disaster that began with the riot. Furthermore, because of the thousands of phone calls and letters to the Board of Supervisors and because of the impact of the Freedom Rally, the supervisors were not able to come to the rescue of the radicals as they normally would have.[45]

”

External Link

The Homosexual and Lesbian Riots - A Hamilton Square Baptist Church Member's Perspective

References

  1. ↑ Christianity Today, November 8, 1993, v37, page 57
  2. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsSep1993.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiots_Barko_Account.htm
  4. ↑ http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41037
  5. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsSep1993.htm
  6. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsSep1993.htm
  7. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsSep1993.htm
  8. ↑ Christianity Today, November 8, 1993, v37, page 57
  9. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsSep1993.htm
  10. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsSep1993.htm
  11. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsSep1993.htm
  12. ↑ Christianity Today, Nov 8, 1993 v37 page 57
  13. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsSep1993.htm
  14. ↑ Christianity Today, Nov 8, 1993 v37 page 57
  15. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsSep1993.htm
  16. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsSep1993.htm
  17. ↑ Christianity Today, Nov 8, 1993 v37 page 57
  18. ↑ Christianity Today, Nov 8, 1993 v37 page 57
  19. ↑ Christianity Today, Nov 8, 1993 v37 page 57
  20. ↑ Christianity Today, Nov 8, 1993 v37 page 57
  21. ↑ Christianity Today, Nov 8, 1993 v37 page 57
  22. ↑ Christianity Today, Nov 8, 1993 v37 page 57
  23. ↑ Christianity Today, Nov 8, 1993 v37 page 57
  24. ↑ Christianity Today, Nov 8, 1993 v37 page 57
  25. ↑ Christianity Today, Nov 8, 1993 v37 page 57
  26. ↑ Christianity Today, Nov 8, 1993 v37 page 57
  27. ↑ Christianity Today, Nov 8, 1993 v37 page 57
  28. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsNov1993.htm
  29. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsNov1993.htm
  30. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsNov1993.htm
  31. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsNov1993.htm
  32. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsNov1993.htm
  33. ↑ The Las Vegas Review-Journal, November 9, 1993
  34. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsNov1993.htm
  35. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsNov1993.htm
  36. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsNov1993.htm
  37. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsNov1993.htm
  38. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsNov1993.htm
  39. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsNov1993.htm
  40. ↑ The San Francisco Chronicle, November 9, 1993
  41. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsNov1993.htm
  42. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsSep1993.htm
  43. ↑ The Las Vegas Review-Journal, November 9, 1993
  44. ↑ San Francisco Chronicle, November 9, 1993
  45. ↑ http://www.hamiltonsquare.net/articlesRiotsNov1993.htm
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