Adam Britt’s Equality Ride Journey

The University of the Cumberlands was a very… special stop. When we got on the bus, we were aware that the school was not going to let us on campus in any shape or form. However, we knew that a public street with sidewalks ran through campus and that was what we were going to use for the day’s events. We were greeted at the school with 20+ police cars and 30+ police people, from all over Kentucky and Tennessee; excessive police force at it’s finest. As the people at the front of the bus were attempting to get off the bus, they were pushed back on and the Vice President of Student affairs and an officer appeared on our bus and took the microphone. He announced to us that Equality Ride had turned down his offer to let us on campus (which turns out is not true) and that the police were here to make sure we did not trespass on University property. As we eventually got off the bus and lined up with our banner to start the day’s events, we were told that we were obstructing pedestrian traffic and we had to keep moving, we could not stop. As we started to march up and down the sidewalk, about every 5 minutes we would hear something different about what we could and could not do. We were told that we could not assemble in groups more than 5, then we were told that we could stop walking as long as we were only in groups of 2, then they said that those groups could not stop walking either. We heard so many things that it was impossible to completely understand what was going on. Jake, the Equality Ride founder, was with us and he was the first to be arrested for failure to disperse and criminal trespassing. The failure to disperse was from standing still too long and the criminal trespassing was from tieing his shoe and going an inch over the yellow line that was there to show University property. This arrest was a surprise for everyone at the event, even the Riders. Because 12 of the Riders had been arrested at SBTS, in the same state, we had agreed that no one from our group would get arrested, as it could jeopardize the well being of the 12, who’s court is in trial as I write this. Even though we had to keep moving, some students were willing to come down and walk and talk with us, which was wonderful to see. The more that we talked to students, the more that word spread for Jake’s arrest, that many saw as silly.

Eventually, the police arrested 3 Cumberland students (for failure to disperse/not constantly moving), which was incredibly empowering for both the Riders and students at the school. I think that it helped open up conversation and made the students wonder what it was about our visit and this issue, that could move their own peers so much to lead to arrest. Even though we were not in the best situation and ended up walking many miles that day, I think that our time near campus was wonderfully spent. I had several wonderful conversations with students and I could see that they were actually listening, instead of just letting what I say go by them. I have heard the same thing from other Riders and they also agree that today was a success, which is always good to have confirmed.

After our time on campus, we went down to the courthouse, where we encountered more police harassment. When we first arrived there, the police told us that we could not stand on the sidewalk, we must keep moving (again). However, eventually the Mayor of the city showed up and one of our Riders, Robin, spoke with him and they allowed us the ‘right’ to stand on the sidewalk without moving (It is okay for police to obstruct the sidewalks, however). In the end, we had a wonderful rally at the courthouse. We had many students and community come down, which was encouraging. I am worried about the students who showed up, as their was an administrator from the school there with a video camera getting footage of all the students that were there, hopefully that will not be used against them.

We had our first group of protestors at this rally, however from their signs, it would appear, as they were not anti-gay protestors, but pro-god protestors. Their signs said things and had messages and almost all of the Equality Riders agreed with, which was interesting.

Overall, the stop was a great success!

As usual, photos can be found here.

With all my love,

Adam

P.s. I had a comment in my blog regard the SBTS stop and a comparison I made. I accidentally deleted the comment, so if you are the commenter, please re-comment with it so I can remember exactly what it said. The commenter said that me comparing Nazi Germany to the comments made by Albert Mohler was not okay and un-true. I could not feel any more different, however.

Both the Nazi’s and Albert Mohler are attempting to wipe out an entire community of people. It is both genocide and eugenics. I would love to hear your thoughts on this, so please be sure to comment again.

Today we had a sit-in at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where Albert Mohler is president. Albert Mohler is the president of the school, on the board for Focus on the Family and many many people look up to him as an evangelical leader. He is the person who made the outrageous statements that if we could find a genetic marker for “gay”, that he would support hormone therapy on the un-born child, to “fix” the baby of the gay. He is supporting eugenics and the genocide of an entire people (Nazi Germany anyone…) and is incredibly immoral.

We made a surprise visit to the administration building on campus, no one knew we were coming and the media knew 10 minutes before we got there. We staged a sit-in in the lobby, demanding that Mohler retract his comments and sincerely apologize for the terrible things he said. After 1.5 hours of sitting in, 12 Riders were arrested and we spent the rest of the day in silent vigil outside the school and eventually holding signs with many community members. Angel is still in jail and we have no idea when he will get out.

It’s late; I will come back to this in the morning and fill it in.

Photos can be found here.

Love,

Adam

Due to the hundreds of spam comments I get a day here, I have added a randomized (simple) math equation that is required for you to answer, to comment. It will be easy, adding or multiplying 3 numbers and will make commenting more fun.

Sorry about this, but it’s the easiest way for me to handle all of this spam.

Love,

-Adam

After the incidents with the police yesterday, Katie and Jarrett sent letters out to all of the huge Queer groups in America, telling them to send a letter to the mayor (basically) saying that the nation is watching what he is doing and we need to be treated with respect. All of those letters came in today and we haven’t had any more problems. The following letter was also sent to Dunn Lampton, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Mississippi
Chief Don Byington, City of Clinton Police Department, Sheriff Maclom McMillin, Hinds County Sheriff Department
John S. Williams, Staff Attorney, ACLU Mississippi and Mississippi Attorney General.

March 23, 2007

Attorney General Jim Hood
MS Attorney General’s Office
Carroll Gartin Justice Building
450 High Street
Jackson, MS 39201

Sent Via: Facsimile

Re: “Get out of town”

Dear Attorney General Hood,

We write today out of deep concern for the actions of the Clinton Mississippi Police Department. We are the Co-Directors of the Soulforce Equality Ride, a bus tour of college students who are crossing the country to advocate for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender equality. As a group we are committed to and trained in the principles of nonviolence, and have a history of peaceful dialogue and respectful interaction with college students and administrations across the country. Soulforce has an outstanding relationship with many police departments and honors the hard work that law enforcement officials put into their lives everyday.

Last night, while in the town of Clinton, Mississippi, we experienced a distressing form of police intimidation. After a day of dialogue at nearby Mississippi College, we parked our bus in downtown Clinton. We were waiting for the return of some of the members of our tour from area coffee shops. While waiting, a police vehicle approached the bus with its lights flashing, signaling us to move. Our bus driver immediately turned down the nearest road and into a church parking lot to await the Equality Riders. The same officer once again followed us into the parking lot, with his lights on and asked our driver to speak with him. The officer was quite aggressive in demanding that we “go on and get out of town.” Our driver explained that we were still waiting on the remainder of our group, but was still forced to move the bus. At that time, we drove and parked the bus in a lot that was previously designated by the city of Clinton. For the third time, a police vehicle approached us with flashing lights. The officer who approached us was extremely indignant and asked us “what is your problem? We have already given you breaks today.” Our driver explained that we were in the space the City provided for us. In response, the officer asserted that our driver would be arrested if he were to take us anywhere else and not leave the city of Clinton immediately. Soon after, a community member arrived with the rest of the Equality Riders and we left promptly. We are prepared to provide sworn affidavits from ten people who can attest to the above series of events.

This behavior on the part of a Clinton police officer is unacceptable and we consider it a violation of our civil rights. Law abiding citizens should be allowed to safely assemble in any town in America. Such actions on the part of a law enforcement agent serve to make gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people feel unsafe in the city of Clinton. The role of a police officer is to protect members of the public, not threaten or intimidate them.

These concerns are augmented by the fact that several days prior to our arrival in Clinton, we received a document from the Clinton Police Department that set restrictions on our First Amendment right to assemble. After being contacted by the American Civil Liberties Union, the city rescinded the unconstitutional restrictions and shamefully applauded Soulforce for “playing the game well.”

We are planning on returning to the city of Clinton today for a preplanned community picnic and we will not tolerate a repeat of this sort of behavior from the Clinton Police Department. If threatened with arrest for lawful assembly today members of the Soulforce Equality Ride are prepared and willing to submit to such an arrest. Any arrests for lawful assembly would be challenged by us in court and followed up with a lawsuit on our behalf against the city of Clinton for violation of our civil rights.

We hope that you will take swift action by informing the city of Clinton that such behavior by the Clinton Police is unlawful and will not be tolerated in the State of Mississippi.

Jarrett Lucas & Katie Higgins

cc. Dunn Lampton, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Mississippi
Chief Don Byington, City of Clinton Police Department
Sheriff Maclom McMillin, Hinds County Sheriff Department
John S. Williams, Staff Attorney, ACLU Mississippi
(end of letter)

Today was a wonderful day. We had our picnic in the park and there were a whole lot of Mississippi College faces there, which was wonderful to see. We had a really good time and had really good conversations. I am very happy with how the day went and it was a good way to end our visit in Mississippi.

Photos, as usual, can be found here.

With all my love,

-Adam

I’m not going to sugar coat this post. It would be so easy for me to say right now ‘some things aren’t going like we want them too, but I know that everything will be okay’, but I can’t do that. For the first time on the ride, I am scared. More than that, I am terrified, but I don’t know why.

After the arrest at Baylor for chalking on campus, 5 riders and 1 student were held overnight. A first for Equality Ride. They had to strip down in front of officers and change into jump suits and the girls had to have cavity searches, while the men did not. They are back with us now, safe, for the moment.

Today was our stop at Mississippi College. We were meet to a sea of people. When we stepped off the bus to be greeted by hundreds of people, it felt real, for the first time. This is what I thought the Ride would be more of and it was scary, yet exciting to see it for the first time. 2 riders were arrested for attempting to deliver a poster with baby photos of the riders and a quote explaining how we are all gods children. Then 3 more riders entered campus in an attempt to start conversations with students, they were also arrested.

We spent the rest of the day talking with students on campus and at a local coffee shop. I had some really good conversations and I think that others did also. When the riders got out of jail, we found out that 2 of the riders had been given a $250 fine and if they are arrested in the next 2 years (anywhere), they have to serve 10 days in Mississippi jail. The other 3 were given a $250 fine, 20 days in jail if they are arrested in the next 2 years and they have to serve 5 days of community service. That means that Katie, Amy and Vince P. will not be with us at our next stop, Union, which is terrible news. We will miss them so very much and the bus will not be the same with them not there.

After that, local police pulled over the bus 3 times in 5 minutes and the bus driver was shouted at. The 3rd time, the police yelled that we need to ‘get out of town’ and they escorted us out of town.

As we were walking to the grocery store, we saw one undercover cop watching the hotel and our bus. We don’t know how many undercover cops we have, but I still haven’t gotten used to being watched constantly.

I have a terrible feeling about tomorrow. I don’t know why, but I have never felt so un-easy going to sleep. I really just want this night to be over and I want to be out of Mississippi.

-Adam

(P.s./edit)

After having our meeting to talk about everything that happened today, I do not feel any less un-easy. However, I think that I have been able to locate at least some source of my worry.

For the first time, I feel that I can compare what we are doing, to the Freedom Ride. As we were being pulled over, I couldn’t help to imagine that in a very small percentage, this is what the Freedom Riders were feeling. I am incredibly uncomfortable with comparing what I am doing with what the Freedom Riders did, however a small part of me feels like I can relate to them on a very small level.

It’s late and I don’t feel like what I just said makes since. I am having so much throw at me and processing it all is proving to be very difficult, I hope that I can work on this.

It is 9:40 in the morning and we haven’t heard from the jail yet about our 6 friends. However, we have 4 wonderful Baylor students waiting with us for us to get a call from the Riders and student in jail. It’s so amazing to see that we have people who are willing to wake up early and be here at 8 and wait around with us until to pick up our friends. Unfortunately, we were supposed to be on the road by 7 this morning, so we can only wait until 10 for the people. Driving away knowing that 6 of our friends are still in Waco is going to be incredibly difficult. Amy and Dean are staying behind and will get a rental van and will drive them to Mississippi when they get out of jail. It’s going to be a long day for everyone and I can’t wait until we can all get back together.

Love and worry,

-Adam