Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Prop 8 Protesters Targeted the LDS Los Angeles Temple

I got this from my mom in an email today. (she is really on fire lately) I thought everyone should know, since I couldn't really find it in any news. Not locally anyway. Even if you are not of my religious persuasion, I think these people need prayers.
I was shocked that the police are not really doing anything but keeping protesters out of the temple grounds. Are these not hate crimes? Are these people not intent on violence? Silent and peaceful protests are a right everyone should have, but this is way beyond that. There is a personal account I will put up later today, but I'm a little busy right now. Peace, Love and Prayers,
The Almighty Liz

The LDS Temple in Los Angeles was under siege yesterday by 2,000 protesters angry over the Church's role in passing Proposition 8, forcing the closure of the temple. According to reports, a gay activist called the temple saying they would be protesting outside the temple permanently until there is gay marriage.Signs were hung from the fence around the temple and protesters screamed in anger, snarled afternoon rush-hour traffic and said, "This isn't going to stop us.If we do this we have a chance." "We're going to fight it until the world changes," protesters claimed."Shame on you," chanted the protesters. Outside the temple, grafitti was scrawled on the walls and signs hung, "Go back to Utah," and "Go to hell Mormons." Their signs said, "No on H8."Protesters promised to go after the Church's tax-exempt status and harass Mormons who had donated to the cause, listed on a website Mormonsfor8.com. The promise was to make the Mormons pay for their role in the passage of Prop 8.One LDS member in the area said, "I don't quite understand our police response (even though I'm one of the police). If this was happening at a Jewish synagogue or a Catholic church, we would be arresting people for hate crimes. As it is at the moment, protestors are sitting on the walls of the temple and the police are on the grounds inside. Church members in our area were called last night to come down to the stake center and spend the night protecting the building from vandalism -- it's like 150 years ago."To see a news report on these events click here. This was the politics of intimidation and harassment, targeting the LDS church, though many other churches had helped in the effort-and a sample of how the homosexual agenda has spread across the nation. It was like San Francisco mayor, Gavin Newsome, said when he illegally started marrying couples in the city before that America was going to have this whether you like it or not.It will not be about people being able to vote their conscience, or calmly assess the issues and consequences, but about threats and vilification. Other churches who participated in the effort have not been similarly targeted.The LDS Church is, of course, in no danger of losing its tax-exempt status. The only donation made to the campaign according to records was $2,078.97, an expense which covered the travel of church leaders who went to California to meet with the coalition. The Church insists that by law it has the right to speak out on moral issues.Threats from Blogs Target Christians A Worldnetdaily.com article noted that homosexual blogs have been boiling with threats toward Christians. Burn their [blank] churches to the ground, and then tax the charred timbers," wrote "World O Jeff" on a blog. On another website "Tread" wrote, "I hope the No on 8 people have a long list and long knives." On another website, a contributor wrote, "Can someone in CA please go burn down the Mormon temples there, PLEASE. I mean seriously. DO IT." On another website "scottinsf" wrote, "Trust me. I've got a big list of names of mormons and catholics that were big supporters of Prop 8. . As far as mormons and catholics . I warn them to watch their backs." Another blog entry: "If you're planning a heterosexual wedding in California . be prepared for picketers. Designate someone to watch the parking lot . You're going to have lots of unexpected expenses. Add $500 to your budget for security. . Be prepared for the flowers not lasting to the reception or the tuxedos showing up two sizes too small or the music at the reception being a way too loud or the cake tasting a little funny," stated another threat. "Be afraid. Be very afraid. We are everywhere." Thus it continues on and on and Matt Barber, director of cultural affairs for Liberty Counsel called the statements "hate crimes" for their intent to create violence against someone based on their beliefs and called on the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and "other leaders within the homosexual lobby" to call for an end to such threats. Thus, the true colors of some of those who push this agenda are in clear display. It is a kind of domestic terrorism designed to silence and quell anyone who oppose this agenda as it marches through our nation. On the same day, this happened, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, issued a statement calling for mutual civility. "No one on any side of the question should be vilified, intimidated or harassed." Lawsuits against Prop 8 At least three lawsuits have been or are in the process of being filed protesting the passage of Proposition 8. Andy Pugno, attorney for the Protect Marriage coalition said, "The lawsuit filed today by the ACLU and Equality California seeking to invalidate the decision of California voters to enshrine traditional marriage in California 's constitution is frivolous and regrettable. These same groups filed an identical case with the California Supreme Court months ago, which was summarily dismissed. We will vigorously defend the People's decision to enact Proposition 8 . . . "It should also be noted that the ACLU recently made this same "constitutional revision" claim in a nearly identical matter in Oregon and it was unanimously rejected." Family Leader's attorneys agree with this estimation.

14 comments:

craftyashley said...

I think this is fiction- just like all the other forward emails.

lizS said...

nope, sorry not a hoax, not fiction.
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/politics/local_elections&id=6493052
i just said i couldn't find it on local news, not that i couldn't find it.

craftyashley said...

Isn't the right to public protest wonderful? I don't see the problem. But of course, we certainly differ in political opinions. Thanks for the article- it was really interesting!

colista said...

The right to public protest is wonderful, I've participated in a few in my life. The difference is, the protests are to be peaceful. When you start with the hateful signs and threats of bodily harm or harm to personal property to try to get your way, that's when it becomes more like a hate crime.

timpani76 said...

I found several articles on this, and a few on some other info on the LDS. Jewish leaders are upset again because some Holocaust survivors names have crept into our database again, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE RELATIVES OF CURRENT LDS MEMBERS!! What? We can't even baptize our own families now?

I saw a video of the protests on that local abc station and there were no people interviewed who supported the ban, NOT ONE. You would think, since the proposition passed and gay marriage was banned, they could find someone who supported it.

Can't the respect the vote of the people? Especially when they vote not once but TWICE???

I agree peaceful protest is great, but I think mormons are targeted by hate crimes far too often, and nothing gets done. They were desecrating garments at one protest at general conference, and no news organization covered that either, until one hispanic church member got so angry that they were doing that in front of his grandchildren that he tried to take the garment away from them. THEN, it made news.

I'm sorry this got so long, but I was just trying to show a PATTERN of ignoring violence and hate against mormons. And that video on Bruce's blog? Another part of the pattern.

Anonymous said...

Wow. Did you really say all that Ashley?

J

lizS said...

um yeah, i'm all for peaceful protest-as i said in the original post. but vadalism, attacking people, yelling and screaming hate and violence is not really my idea of "peaceful", whatever you're political persuasion. i will say that the video link i posted was not a very accurate view of the incident. it was just the first i found and threw up. then again, when does the medis do a good job of depicting the truth? never. dig a little deeper, and you'll find the truth; i think that the article i posted, while long, represents the most honest picture, of all the ones i read. which is why i put it up. i'll post the first person account in a bit. i have to get my daughter off the bus now.

Dana Cheryl said...

There's nothing peaceful about what's going on out here...

They're throwing bricks through the windows of our churchs. They're vandalizing buildings with spray paint.

The people of California have spoken. If those opposed to Prop 8 want to be taken seriously then they need to act as grown ups.

We patiently endure 1000s of protesting people as they converge upon on General Conferences and our religions productions such as the Manti Pageant. We're told be leaders to show them love, respect, and kindness. I whole-heartedly agree with the right to peacefully protest but WHEN THEY BLOCK THE ENTRANCE TO OUR TEMPLES barring us from the full expression of our peaceful relgious practices they've gone too far.

lizS said...

well said dana! they want their rights, but only if nobody else can have their own rights, as in the right to vote however we choose, and practice our religion. oi! people.

Bruce said...

i have a vid that i will post that shows the protesters at a temple. the 4 guys that came to protect the temple. and the fact that the 4 guys are being charged with hate crimes. its on my home computer so it will take me a bit cause im at work.

Bruce said...

i posted the vid on my blog if you want to see it. its not fiction. i wish it where.

KT said...

While I'm not Morman and don't share your religious beliefs, I am a born again Christian.
The voters of CA have said once AGAIN that marriage is.... NOT that marriage should be.... the joining of one man and one woman. This great country was built on religious freedom. As Americans we have not only the right but the responsibility to vote into office leaders who represent us to the rest of the world. I am of the opinion that while those opposing Prop 8 failed to get their agenda passed, they did get their president. Where are the protesters who failed to get their candidate for President elected? I'm not referring to John McCain only, but to all those candidates who ran for office and who will now stand behind the rights of those who voted not for a man and his beliefs but for the color of his skin. If biology had been 'a little less accommodating' to our President Elect he would have fair skin like his mother's side of the family. He might then have been elected for those reasons that others have been elected in the past. I voted for the person and his values and his ability to represent me and my interests to the world at large. I am totally against having Michelle Obama represent me. This is the woman who only after her husband entered the Presidental campaign is 'Proud to be an American'! Until she thought she might live in the White House she was ashamed of being an American. She will represent me? And her mother who I feel safe in assuming lead her in her beliefs will join with Michelle and the rest of the Obama family in living in MY WHITE HOUSE. She will be influencing children whose bedrooms you and I will pay to have redecorated. I say give each of the girls a reasonable budget ($200.00)? and let them pick out paint colors, bedding and window coverings! I think that children raised in the White House should have their rooms reflect their personalities, but let's be real. By the time the girls leave the White House in 4 years, they will have changed their perspectives of what they want their rooms to look like! That is being a kid. That is being human! Tastes change.

As for comments made by craftyashley... take off your rose colored glasses!
I know multiple people who fought hard to have Prop 8 defeated. Some of them asked for my support to defeat it even though they know where I stand. I think that they don't see anything more than what they want to see. I too have the right to fight for what I believe in and I refuse to be forced into laying aside my beliefs so they can dominate my world with their views.
I'm just one small voice out here in CA who wants to let LDS know that I thank you all for your heroic efforts to keep morality alive during troubled times. Thank You!
Kathy Guess

lizS said...

wow kathy, thanks! you just don't know how nice that was to read after all of the hatred directed towards the mormon population in the past few days (centuries...). sorry i didn't find this till now, lol! darn, now i can't curse everyone in california with impunity! just kidding, i never did that in the first place. i know there are lots of good people in that state, not even mormon!!, because how else would that proposition have passed? cheers to you!

KT said...

Liz,
I can't tell you how pleased we are that Mary shares you with us! You and yours are an extended part of the family! As are your friends. While I may not share all your religious views I do my best to accept individuals by how they live their lives not by labels or titles. What a boring place the world would be if all of us were carbon copies of one another. So I guess that tells you where I stand on cloning...
Aunt Kathy