Temple Square "Demonstrators"

[blooit]

I have tickets to Saturday Morning session. It reminded me of some of the experiences I've had down there. I remember feeling that the police seemed fairly pro-anti-mormon. Then I read this quote on demonstrator's website:

"Police : Initially there were all kinds of misunderstandings about the rules, since there were some permits that we had to work around. At one point, Rod was being sited by a uniformed officer and was possibly headed to jail. These two high ranking plain clothes officers walked over to Rod and the uniformed officer and RIPPED THE TICKET UP!!! God has given us great favor with this police department." http://www.frontiernet.net/~avtruth/rpt_gc02.htm

I found it interesting (and this was a while ago) that even the demonstrators seem to see the police as one their side.

I have some interesting video of one of them screaming at my five year old son. This was during the olympic games - I wonder if things have calmed down since then.

[Stargazer]

Hmmm. The police may feel that they have to protect the demonstrators from the target of their wrath. Because how would it look if some misguided Mormon decided to take matters into hand and do something he/she (or the Church) would regret?

[Avatar4321]

I forgot they would be active this weekend. Let me know if they do anything significant. As that will likely never happen, i doubt Ill ever hear anything, but if they do let me know.

[Freedom]

Unfortunately, the police do not allow anyone to stand on the sidewalks so it is not possible to get close to the demonstrators to get a picture with them. As soon as I stepped out of temple square, an office told me to move along.

[Damien the Leper]

This makes me sick. The lack of respect for a peaceful gathering is disgusting. It's made worse by public officials enabling hatred, discrimination and intolerance to continue.

[The Nehor]

One of these days I'm going to join the protestors with an assortment of signs designed to make us look like idiots such as:

"Ban Toasters, they cause cancer and killed my hamster."

"End the speciest profiling of the LDS Church. Dogs can be exalted too."

"Down with the Jehovah's Witnesses."

"Armageddon is nigh....buy war bonds."

"Yes, I'm serving Satan. What of it?"

"Everything is great. I think everyone here is cute."

"I think I'm at the wrong protest. I am actually trying to save the rainforests."

"I'm with stupids."

Ahhhh....good times will be had.

[Bernard Gui]

How about hoisting a pair of boxer shorts on a pole with a sign saying, "Ask your Baptist friends

about their underwear." Or, one could set up a booth giving away green jello with shredded carrots.

Or, "Mormon or Moron? I'm a Mormon. Which are you?" Or, carry a camera with a sign, "If I take your

picture, I'm going to have it baptized and you will be a Mormon!"

Bernard

[TAO]

People will be people. They can protest and demonstrate to their heart's content, if that is what they wish to spend their weekend doing. People have the right to not like other people publicly in this country (and that can be a good thing).

As for me, I'm going to be listening to General Conference. Much more enjoyable way to spend the weekend, imho. =).

Then again, I'm Mormon.

[Stargazer]

This makes me sick. The lack of respect for a peaceful gathering is disgusting. It's made worse by public officials enabling hatred, discrimination and intolerance to continue.

Well, you should invite your avatar over. Between the two of you, you could square them away, don't you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUDrs8IYevM

Edited March 29, 2012 by Stargazer

[KevinG]

One of these days I'm going to join the protestors with an assortment of signs designed to make us look like idiots such as:

"Ban Toasters, they cause cancer and killed my hamster."

"End the speciest profiling of the LDS Church. Dogs can be exalted too."

"Down with the Jehovah's Witnesses."

"Armageddon is nigh....buy war bonds."

"Yes, I'm serving Satan. What of it?"

"Everything is great. I think everyone here is cute."

"I think I'm at the wrong protest. I am actually trying to save the rainforests."

"I'm with stupids."

Ahhhh....good times will be had.

There is a political group called protest warrior that did just what you are suggesting. They are hilarious!

[Storm Rider]

I must say that I have found some of the individuals protesting and their signs pretty funny during conference. I am positive that you could never get me to go to another church and protest any event; it is just so beyond my comprehension.

I will say that on year I went and I met a small group of men that simply wished me well and to enjoy conference. They were such a welcome relief that I stopped and shook the hand of one fo the men. I felt the Holy Ghost in the encounter and came away with a witness that these people were true Christians. I have never forgot them.

The other bozos are just humor fodder for those of us with an irreverent sense of humor..

[zeez]

I wonder if they will ever pass out free stuff. Because at least you can get free stuff when you walk by them.

[frankenstein]

There is a political group called protest warrior that did just what you are suggesting. They are hilarious!

I used to protest warrior.

As for the demonstrators at GC most if not all are legally bound to get a permit. The protesters usually announce well in advance their presence at GC. This means their presence is no longer spontaneous which means they are not exempted from the permit requirements.

[Cobalt-70]

This makes me sick. The lack of respect for a peaceful gathering is disgusting. It's made worse by public officials enabling hatred, discrimination and intolerance to continue.

The police can't really stop it. Constitutionally, at least. So they have to enable it. And from the police officer's perspective, I can see why they don't want to arrest the protesters. Getting arrested is a time-honored way to get more media attention. It may seem like the police are on the protesters' side, but actually half the police are probably Mormons themselves, and they are just doing their job.

[Saints Alive]

It probably better for the police to be on the protestors side ( or Atleast have the protestors think they are) than for the protestors to claim they were beaten and arrested by Danites dressed as cops.

[silvermoon383]

Since when did freedom of speech allow for slander and libel? The antics perpetrated by the General Conference protestors (especially during the garment era of 2003-4 or whenever it was) would never be allowed anywhere else. Heck, I just saw a report on the news about a pastor getting arrested in California for reading the Bible outside of a DMV. It was called "creating a hostile atmosphere.

If reading straight out of a Bible is "creating a hostile atmosphere" then just what do you call the protestor gauntlet in SLC?

[Damien the Leper]

Well, you should invite your avatar over. Between the two of you, you could square them away, don't you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUDrs8IYevM

We would make a good team. The damage would be phenomenal!

[thesometimesaint]

silvermoon:

General Conference, and the General Authorities are public figures. Thus the slander and libel laws are not applicable to them. IF the protestors were to claim that Silvermoon was "X" then they could be open to slander and libel claims.

[Stargazer]

Since when did freedom of speech allow for slander and libel? The antics perpetrated by the General Conference protestors (especially during the garment era of 2003-4 or whenever it was) would never be allowed anywhere else. Heck, I just saw a report on the news abouta pastor getting arrested in California for reading the Bible outside of a DMV. It was called "creating a hostile atmosphere.

If reading straight out of a Bible is "creating a hostile atmosphere" then just what do you call the protestor gauntlet in SLC?

Oh, but that's California. You know, the land of the Governator? Some used to call it the "Land of the Fruits and Nuts."

[blooit]

silvermoon:

General Conference, and the General Authorities are public figures. Thus the slander and libel laws are not applicable to them. IF the protestors were to claim that Silvermoon was "X" then they could be open to slander and libel claims.

Quite true. On the other hand, if any other group were targeted and their sacred symbols were abused in public, incitement to riot and hate crimes would be considered. IMHO there is clearly a double standard here.

[Bob Crockett]

Since when did freedom of speech allow for slander and libel?

Always, at least in modern U.S. history. Slander and libel is protected speech, although if it injures somebody the speaker has to pay.

We should not get bent out of shape over the protesters. Their right to speak gives our Elders the right to go door to door. Many a city has tried to ban the Elders from going door to door, and the very law that gives the protesters the right to speak at GC gives our elders the right to speak. I'd say, rejoice in our constitutional rights - rights Canadians and the British lack.

[Zakuska]

How about hoisting a pair of boxer shorts on a pole with a sign saying, "Ask your Baptist friends

about their underwear." Or, one could set up a booth giving away green jello with shredded carrots.

Or, "Mormon or Moron? I'm a Mormon. Which are you?" Or, carry a camera with a sign, "If I take your

picture, I'm going to have it baptized and you will be a Mormon!"

Bernard

Better yet. Imagine...

A pink thong on a pole with an arrow point to the protestor next to you.

Ask him to show you his "magic" underwear.

[selek1]

I'd say, rejoice in our constitutional rights - rights Canadians and the British lack.

But which they are never hesitant to exercise- regardless of their specific knowledge on the topic at hand.

I have to agree with the majority of faithful LDS in this thread: I am not troubled by the protestors.

Some are simply misguided, yet sincere- and can be persuaded by our conduct in the face of their protests.

Some are merely funny who do more harm to their cause than to ours.

Others are hypocites and Pharisees who are there to be seen and to "flaunt" their piety. Like any other Pharisee, verily - they have their reward.

In each instance- whether protestor or penitent, Saint or Sybarrite- angels are silent notes taking.

Those who rail against the Church will be held accountable for those acts- no matter how blind, bigotted, and corrupt the Salt Lake City prosecutor may be.

[wenglund]

Demonstrators are visible evidence of the importance of the church and its members to certain people outside of the church.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[ERayR]

This makes me sick. The lack of respect for a peaceful gathering is disgusting. It's made worse by public officials enabling hatred, discrimination and intolerance to continue.

Yep it is terrible that a good protest gets underway and the Mormons show up to spoil it.