In a shocking display of intolerance, a Christian worship service in Seattle was subjected to a violent onslaught by antifa and pro-transgender activists.
The police were compelled to intervene, leading to several arrests as the masked "counter-protesters", clad in black, attempted to dismantle the fencing and storm the event. Some even resorted to public indecency, a behavior far from the norm.
The chaos that ensued was captured in several scenes, including instances where the police had to physically restrain antifa members to prevent them from advancing further.
As reported by RedState, the attendees of the praise and worship gathering, hosted by MayDay USA, were determined to spread the love of Jesus Christ even in the face of such hostility.
They believed it was time for church-goers to extend their message of love to the darkest corners of the world, despite the opposition from Antifa, transgender activists, and other far-left militants.
One of the pastors behind the event provided some insight into their motives. He emphasized that the right to freely exercise religion and speech is not exclusive to any group, and Christians have as much right to express their beliefs in public as anyone waving a "transgender" flag while hurling obscenities at those they disagree with.
When asked about his message to the rest of the country, the pastor said, "I think it's because of the silence of the church. So my message to the rest of the country is, we've got to stop being silent. Stop being inside the four walls of church. Step outside the four walls of the church, and bring the love of Jesus Christ to the most dark places we see."
The situation took a turn for the worse when the Mayor of Seattle, Bruce Harrell, condemned the Christians involved in the event. He labeled the worship concert as an "extreme right-wing rally" and expressed his support for the "counter-protesters" who clashed with and allegedly injured police officers.
Harrell's statement is a stark reminder that a city, especially in America, is a conglomeration of people who are all free to express their beliefs, including religious beliefs, in any legal way they deem fit. If someone is provoked to violence and hatred by the singing of worship songs, it is a reflection of their own depravity, not a fault of the worshippers.
However, Harrell's words seem to suggest that being "LGBTQ+" in Seattle grants one the power to veto the rights of others. He blamed "anarchists" who "infiltrated" the counter-protest for the violence, rather than acknowledging that the counter-protesters were the anarchists. He further directed the city's parks department to investigate the application submitted by the Christians for their worship service, implying they should not have been allowed to be there.
Harrell's argument essentially shifts the blame from the left-wing agitators who injured police officers to the Christians for merely existing. He suggests that had the Christians not exercised their rights to free assembly and expression through the legal permitting process, the violence would not have occurred.
Regardless of whether some believe these Christians were too confrontational with this event, it is crucial to remember that Christians, like any other group, are allowed to exist in whatever capacity they see fit within the bounds of the law. No individual, regardless of their mental state, has the right to strip them of their rights simply because they disagree with the lyrics of a song or the words on a banner.
The Seattle PD, who had to confront these violent left-wing agitators, must feel disheartened to see the agitators absolved of all wrongdoing by the city's mayor. It is likely that those arrested will be released without facing any real consequences, further undermining the rule of law and the principles of freedom and individual rights.
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