Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Applauding the Warwick PD!!

These instigators from Pennsylvania came into Rhode Island with the expressed purpose of protesting to deny civil rights to an entire group of Rhode Island citizens. As far as I'm concerned, they got what they asked for, and should have gotten worse. Get out of the road and out of my face with your messages of hate! Rhode Islanders don't need you to lecture us about marriage, we will decide this issue for ourselves, and ultimately I think we will decide to grant marriage equality to all Rhode Island citizens. So go back to the rocks you crawled out from under in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania and stop interfering in places that you don't belong! The four young ladies are heroines in my book -- you go girls!!

I'm glad they caught the young women. I think they should be charged with hate crimes, too. I don't agree with the people they attacked, but these women need to learn a lesson in a big way.

NOW how DUMB do you people feel?? All of you in the last blog supported these fools?? I knew it.. and tried to post it.. These are the jerks who protested the funnerals of our soldiers who died in Irag.. they are all conected.. arent you glad you supported these haters?? BUNCH OF FOOLS

I disagree with the principles these men advocate but I think that anyone should be able to non-violently state his or her opinion in an atmosphere free from harassment.

These young women have made a terrible mistake and will now have a police record that makes them seem like hooligans even if their orginal goal was to stand up for human rights.

We all need to be respectful of the right to free speech.

What would have happened if people were protesting in favor of gay marriage and
people threw things at them? They would
have been accused of hate crimes and
arrested on felony charges. This is supposed
to be America where people have a right to express their opinions whether you like it or not. You don't have the right to attack them.

Really DJ? Wow. Those people have a right to their opinion and they are guarenteed the right to express it. You expect your fellow citizens to respect your right to your view point. You can't extend the same rights to people who disagress with you. I don't it as hate speech. I do see the attack as a hate crime. DJ, I think you need to mature and learn tolerance.

Great job Police,again I say put all these issues
on the ballot,let the people vote and that is that!!It needs to end it is tiring and needs to be ended and this is a legal way!!!!I am not a
gay basher,or illegal alien hater just lets end it and move on to more pressing problems!!!!

oh get over yourselves, the group deserved it. They were probably hungry after their long trip across the country protesting equality. =D good for the girls!

So, Dave, let me see if I've got this right. When four guys from out of state come into RI, stand in the middle of a busy thoroughfare, and spew incendiary hate against gay people, you defend their right to express their opinion. But when I express my opinion about them, you tell me that I "need to mature and learn tolerance". There's a big difference between somebody protesting to gain civil rights and somebody protesting to deny civil rights to others. Try to understand the difference, and perhaps you might learn something about tolerance too.

Well, it was good to hear there were four people who stood up for what was right but it was sad that they went about it the wrong way. I drove by these fanatics before the incident and the hope of coming back that way and seeing someone counter protesting them was at least a comfort to me. But what the girls did was not counter protesting, I believe they should have been arrested but I hope they get off lightly on this because they had good intentions. These fanatics meanwhile I hope to see them again. Protesting a lost cause. But next time I hope to also see good people counter protesting for what is right. And to the General Assembly can we please get this marriage issue resolved properly soon.

Brienna is a typical liberal: hateful and hypocritical. Liberals think that "tolerance" means tolerating views that they share and any who dare not share these views are demonized. What a disgrace.

Marriage should not be a state sanctioned institution, it is a spiritual union. It is the domain of the church, not of the state. How demeaning to think that we need government to sanction bonds between consenting adults.

Logical, I somewhat agree its demeaning to think the state can OK one's marriage but just as demeaning to think a church can. Marriage is between two people that's it. Not two people and the government or two people and the church just two people. So who has the right to say no you can't do that to those two people. Both the government and the church are trying to. Both are wrong. I would much prefer to have both step aside. But I don't see that happening. The government is the one that deals financially and legally (in terms of immigration) with married couples. So they have somewhat of a legitimate claim but the church none. There is no reason for them to be involved. It's God's job to judge ours (humans) to turn the other cheek but some people seem to have forgotten that and seem to consider themselves God for they are always doing his job and judging.

James is a typical conservative. He feels free to support policies that oppress people and deny them their civil rights. Then when people push back against his oppressive policies, he plays the victim card, calls them "hateful and hypocritical", and whines about being "demonized". The only disgrace here, James, is that people like you care more about the rights of these instigators from out-of-state to stage their hateful protests in the middle of a busy intersection than they do about the right of their fellow Rhode Islanders to attain the same marriage benefits that they enjoy.

I know that we went about that situation the wrong way..we were planing on holding signs to counter-protest, yet got caught up in the moment. We all apologize for going about this so violently, however ...Those men did not show up the next day...which I think we all were aiming for.

~Kristen

James take a deep breath...it was food...no one got hurt, no one died. =D And I do not have tolerance for those who spout hate and promote intolerance and I'm surprised that people do.

I was one of the young women amongst the girls in this article. What we did was completely spur of the moment, these articles do not have the full facts only all the people that were present do. We may of acted a bit hastily but the men got what they deserved! They already had this all planned out knowing exactly what was going to happen that is why they brought cameras and a video recorder to the scene with them! It was instigation all the way. It is unfortunate that we fell for there instigation, but may it be a lesson learned for them next time around when they think gays and lesbians wont respond back!

Kristen, I must applaud your intentions. And I understand getting caught up in the moment. I'll admit that I was very angry when I 1st saw them. Now as far as them not coming back I shouldn't say this but good job!!! I would shake your hand if I could. I'm honored to see you joined the conversation and I wish you and your friends the best in what ever legal situation you have ahead of you. Just remember you have all of history behind you, you are on the winning side of a battle for basic rights. You may not make Gandhi, or Martin Luther King proud per Se but their spirits live in your actions and in your intentions.

"Those men did not show up the next day...which I think we all were aiming for."

Interesting choice of words.

There is the usual double standard at work here. Apparently many feel that only people of religious faith or conservative traditions are haters. I saw these men when I drove by. They only carried simple signs saying that marriage was between a man and a woman -- a belief that most Americans share. The signs said nothing about civil unions or relationships between consenting adults. They used no offensive language. The men were silent when I drove by -- hardly spewing hate. There was no justification for physically attacking them and for some people to urge on -- you go girl -- the attackers is vicious. The fact that the men were from Pennsylvania is totally irrelevant.

GO GIRLS =]
who wants to hear some men preach about natural marriage!!
Whoever your happy with is what counts.
those men are haterrrrrrs,
go back to your state!!!
you want to be a hater,
well so can i! =]

I was one of the people attacked. Let's get the facts straight. The most serious attack was a glass jar chucked right at my face. What damaged could that have done? Being covered with mace is no laughing matter too.

The assault was unprovoked. We were holding signs saying "Honk for Traditional Marriage," and "God's Marriage = 1 Man + 1 Woman." Is that a message of hate?

Another thing: the attack was premeditated. They marched straight to us in a bee line. When they got close enough, they yelled; "Get them!" That doesn't sound like they came over for tea.

One last thing, the arrests were made. All four were apprehended, thanks to the diligent work of the Warwick PD.

During this campaign in support of Traditional marriage, we have received a lot of death threats. Where is the love and tolerance from the homosexuals?

Actions talk louder than words. The traditional marriage group was peaceful. The pro-homosexual attackers were violent.

You can try to spin reality, but the picture is clear to all those of good will. God bless the police department.

All the men were doing was defending the law of the state. I defy the attackers to find one word of hate in the signs or literature there were carrying.
Civil debate is what is needed. Hitting people with bottles and pepper spray is a sign they do not have arguments.
I am appalled the Melissa thinks she did something good. Since when is felony assault good? Does the end justify the means?
It's about time someone stood up for the family and not let the homosexual movement shove same sex "marriage" down our throats!

Anonymous, if you don't think the protesters had hateful intent then you should take a close look at their website. It is full of vile hatred toward gay people. And I'm sorry, but it is relevant that they were from Pennsylvania. Marriage equality is an issue that is decided on a state-by-state basis. These people were coming here from out-of-state to influence Rhode Island state law and to suppress the civil rights of Rhode Island citizens. As for the beliefs that most Americans share, remember that not so long ago most Americans shared the belief that inter-racial marriages should be illegal. There are many instances throughout history where the opinion of a majority is used to suppress the rights of a minority. Just because a majority believes something doesn't make it right; that's why we have the constitution!

I will always be for the right for civil discourse and protests. I agree that the actions of the four women were uncalled for. However I also believe in being progressive, and I for one am sick and tired of being trapped in the only New England state that isn't offering equal marriage rights for everyone. I can understand the frustration, the feeling of being targeted, and as much as marriage is an institution of the church, THE RIGHTS OF MARRIED COUPLES ARE NOT ADMINISTERED BY THE CHURCH, BUT THE STATE. THIS is what we are fighting against. THE CHURCH DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO DICTATE WHICH ADULT CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CAN HAVE CERTAIN PRIVILEGES AND WHO CANNOT. We live in a state where our colleges have anti-gender, sexuality and sexual identity discrimination policies, where our capitol has an openly gay mayor, where our pRIde celebration is spectacular! This advance in equality shouldn't be such a struggle! We live in an age of fighting, of struggling, of TRYING... and our goal? Equality! Nobody is looking to convert anyone to a sexuality or identity that is different from their own, because at least among those I have met, there is a certain mentality that all people of all walks of life that do no harm to others are beautiful. So while the actions of the four women were harmful and are NOT encouraged by the community of Rhode Island, their message is clear: Rhode Island is ready. WE ARE READY FOR CHANGE HERE. Our economy is dying. People are fighting to survive, to keep their homes. What are YOU fighting for? Equality, happiness and joy--or REPRESSION?

I find it truly amazing that people like Swordsman can spend their time and money traipsing all around the east coast, staging protests to suppress the civil rights of citizens of other states, only to shed big crocodile tears and wallow in fake outrage over the fact they are not getting love and tolerance from "the homosexuals". What do you expect will happen to you when your pastime involves denying rights to other people? Seriously now, do you really expect love and tolerance in return for your message of hate and oppression? You are a bigoted, hateful instigator. Your protest is an act of violence against gay Americans, your website is despicable, and despite your delusions to the contrary, you are not a Godly person!!

As a gay person how much are we suppose to take of this harassment by these people? I say good for the girls. If I could afford it I would pay for their defense. I would have been happier if they would have been shot. I think its time for gays to get more active.