Protest returns to Kirkwood

Wednesday's rains didn't stop protesters from gathering for a second day at People's Park to speak out against what they consider sins in the eyes of Jesus Christ. After journeying to Indianapolis Tuesday for another protest rally, the "Call to Repentance" protesters returned to Bloomington for another afternoon of waving signs and yelling at passers-by.\n"Bloomington is the fag capital," proclaimed Kelly White, a Campbellsburg, Ind., native. "We came to protest sin in every form that we know and to tell people that Jesus Christ can't save you from your sins."\nWes Neill, also a Campbellsburg resident, was one of many protesters who fought the rains to impart his views on IU students and Bloomington residents.\n"Universities tend to be more liberal," said Neill, who was passing out protest booklets such as, "Sin City," that included comic illustrations of anti-gay protesting. It also included words speaking in favor of accepting Christ saying, "It's now time to make your choice. If you do nothing, you'll remain a condemned child of Satan...and one heartbeat from hell."\n"We're here to warn people of sin who don't know they're in sin. If someone's house was on fire, I'd want to give them warning that they were in peril," Neill said.\nAnother pamphlet handed out at Wednesday's protest entitled, "Sodomite Terrorism," included a number of references to homosexuals, homosexual statistics and controversial views on such sexual orientation.\n"It's true that Bloomington is a hot spot (for gays), but it's not like that's the only place we go," Neill noted in speaking of the group's recent trip to Indianapolis.\nWhile Neill has once been arrested for holding a banner that bore the words, "Homosexuality Is Sin," the group has many times been on the receiving end of feelings of hate.\n"People tell us to quit protesting hate and tell us to get out of here, and people come by and give us nasty, vile hand signals," White said.\nPassers-by stood on street corners looking at the protesters with curiosity, disgust -- and some even went as far as to take matters into their own hands.\nCarmen Patterson and Sarah Deckard, both Bloomington residents, were among the many who came to witness the radical spectacle on Kirkwood Avenue. But instead of just watching, they began kissing to show the demonstrators what they stood for.\nWhile a young man stood in front of sign-holders screaming such things as, "Don't look at me," and "Don't touch me," the bisexual girls kissed as "Call to Repentance" members looked on in disgust.\n"We're trying to make the point that this is America, and we're free to make our own choices," Patterson said. "They're the ones who will go to hell because they're going against everything they're supposed to be proving. They really have no right to do that," she added. "A man and a man, a woman and a woman ... it doesn't matter."\nBut such actions did not convince the demonstrators to believe otherwise. \n"It doesn't matter who they are, Jesus Christ can't save them," White said. "They will be held accountable for their sins."\nMonday's protest began across the street from the Sample Gates at 12 p.m. and moved down Kirkwood Avenue before ending in People's Park at the corner of Dunn and Kirkwood around 3:20 p.m. \nLess--organized counter demonstrators quickly formed ranks to protest against Call to Repentance's demonstration. By 3 p.m. there were nearly two counter demonstrators for every member of the Call to Repentance team.\nCheers erupted from the counter demonstrators and spectators when the Call to Repentance demonstrators left.\nPolice made only one arrest during the dueling demonstrations when a counter demonstrator shoved a member of the Call to Repentance.\nEmily Neff, 16, and Dakota Derryberry, 15, of Bloomington were enjoying their first day of summer break at the Bloomington Bagel Company when they heard the protestors. The two girls went to the Den buying poster board and markers. Then they called their friends.\n"We don't agree with their message," Neff said. "We couldn't just sit here without doing something."\n"We wanted to send out a message of love," Derryberry added.\nOther bystanders borrowed markers and scrounged cardboard from surrounding stores to create their own signs. Call to Repentance had informed Bloomington Police Department of its plan to demonstrate. Several officers looked on while demontrators and counter demonstrators intermingled, exchanging words and competing for the attention of the spectators. Storms pointed out the irony underlying in the counterdemonstrations and the catcalls from the Kilroy's patrons.\n"You say we should tolerate everyone," Storms retorted. "But you will not tolerate me."\nShould the protestors return, the police plan to handle the demonstrations in a similar manner.\n"This worked okay," Sgt. Bill Parker said. "Most folks say whatever they want"