Our time in Springfield, Misouri has been a time of meditation for many riders. Central Bible College choose to not allow their students to have conversations with use, so much of our time has been spent with community members. Our first day in Springfield, we went to a local Unitarian Univeralist church for a service titled “The Inherent Worth & Dignity of Me.” The service was amazing and I coulden’t help to realize that this was the first time I had felt truley comfortable in a church, in a very long time. I very much enjoy the UU’s outlook on life and I think that it is a wonderful thing to have availiable to the community. After the service, the church served us an amazing lunch with many Vegan options, which were incredible. The two people who made the lunch stayed up until 2 (Day light savings time, so 3) making this meal and it was incredibly generus of them. After going back to the hotel and having a time to rest and work on presentations, we went back to the UU church and we had a beautiful candle light service. I am glad that we were able to end the night with such a beautiful service and that time of fellowship.
Our day on/near the campus of Central Bible College was a very different day from our day at Dordt. Central Bible College chose not to let us on campus for dialogue with their students. We held a silent vigil outside the campus of CBC. This silent vigil was to represent the silence that the students at CBC are forced into everyday. At times, we broke our silence to sing songs, such as Amazing Grace and We Shall Overcome. While I was standing outside of this institution and singing We Shall Overcome, a song that I have sung for my entire life, was a very powerful moment for me. It took me back to Elementary School, where I was in the choir and we would sing this song a lot. I knew about the Civil Rights movement when I was in Elementary School, however standing outside this school, it clicked. I could see Ms. Routin’s (my choir teacher) face as I was singing it and I knew that she would be very happy to see where I was at. She was always very supportive of anything that I wanted to do in Elementary School and I know that she would be very supportive of the Equality Ride. Being able to see her face was amazing and it took me back to an easier time in my life. A time where nothing mattered and people weren’t told they were less than, because of their sexual orientation.
After the press conference we had outside of CBC, two Straight Ally Equality Rider’s entered the campus to attempt to open up dialogue with students on campus. The police met them on campus and they were taken away to the Springfield Jail. We continued to sing while they were being arrested and it was such an incredibly powerful time for me, as it was others. Seeing two people being arrested for wanting to calmly talk to students, it confirmed for me why I was on the ride and made it so real. My voice shook and often singing was difficult, but I went on and continued to have my voice heard on campus.
The police presence was very interesting, on the campus of CBC. They had police on the roof (with riot gear, possibly) and the two women that were arrested said that behind the school they had many police vehicles and vans. They were expecting violence and much arrest and it confuses me so much at how people can be so un-educated about us. It is very easy to find information about Soulforce and the Equality Ride; it baffles my mind that there is still so much false ‘information’ floating around about us. An example is this letter, sent to Panara Bread Company, which we visited and after our time at CBC. It reads as:
Subject: Civil Protest
A group known as the “Equality Riders” is coming to Spfld. Sunday + Monday for a planned protest at Central Bible College. As much as I have been able to determine, this group is a collection of gays and vegetarian activists. They usually like to get themselves arrested in order to publicize their beliefs. They are planning to assemble on the street across from CBC sometime Monday morning 3/12/07 in an attempt to engage CHC students in “meaningful dialogue” (ie; get themselves arrested). They also plan to make an appearance at a nearby Panera Bread (presumably the one on N. Kansas Exp) for the stated purpose of “engaging in discussion” with the CBC students that frequent it (ie; get themselves arrested). The size of this group is unknown at this time, and S.P.D. has plans in place to deal with the situation, but if it starts spinning out of control they will of course be calling on us for assistance I would like everyone in the Patrol Division to keep their cell phones turned on Monday and be prepared to suit up and report for duty if needed. We have volunteered our jail transport bus for the effort if needed. It is unknown exactly what the “Equality Riders” are riding (no pun intended here, I was referring to bicycles of motorcycles). Hopefully this will be nothing more than peacful protest, but this is not a good group to mix in with Ozarks hillbillies….
stay tuned,
Capt. Gibson
This letter came from a person from the police station in the area. We have been in contact with the Springfield police station and had been for a long time, how are letters like this still being produced? I don’t understand, at all.
After our time at CBC we went to Panera Bread to talk with students and community members. We decided to go back to CBC to spend more time there. As the big gay bus pulled up you could see the confusion and fear in the eyes of the security people in the area. It was amazing to see how quickly the security at the school came together where we were at and at first they obviously had no idea how to deal with us. Eventually, after hours of standing there, they seemed to get bored with us and started to disperse.
This second time at CBC was also very powerful; we had more song and spontaneously started to read Bible verses to the school that we felt were relevant and powerful. I did not read any out loud, but this time was really good for me to meditate on the Bible and what it is. I am glad I had that time.
After our second time at CBC we went to a park to eat with community members and it was a great time. Even though we did not get to speak to CBC students, we did get to speak to a lot of community members and I am glad for that. I think that we opened up a lot of questions and I think that conversations will be started on campus, because of our visit. That is a wonderful thing.
We are not in Oklahoma and tomorrow we will be visiting Oklahoma Baptist University. It is going to be an interesting day.
Photos from our time at CBC can be found here
Love,
Adam