Equality riders arrested at Union University
Monday, November 10, 2008
Uncredited, The Associated Press
JACKSON, Tenn. (AP) — Three people were arrested Monday while trying to speak to Union University students about equality for gay and transgender students.
The Soulforce Q Equality Riders, a social justice organization that visits colleges to encourage discussions on the oppression of gays, included several Union University students.
Officials at the Christian-centered school instructed the equality riders to stay at a building across the street from the main campus and in a limited area at its south entrance Monday.
When demonstrators tried to move further into campus toward the student center, police turned them away.
Zak Rittenhouse, Manny Lampon and Jarrett Lucas continued into campus and were arrested and charged with criminal trespassing.
University officials said in a written statement the university gave the group an area in Luther Hall, a private donor offered meals and administrators encouraged faculty and students to “engage in informal discussions” with the group in the designated area.
“Although Union University cannot affirm this group’s message, the university leadership made an attempt to offer dialog and Christian hospitality to Equality Riders,” the statement says. “It is regrettable that the leadership of Soulforce responded by rejecting these offers.”
The group wrote in a news release it will return to campus Tuesday to further the discussion on equality for all regardless of sexual orientation.
The original article is available on the WTVC News Channel 9 website:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TN_EQUALITY_RIDERS_TNOL-?SITE=WTVCTV&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT