Note: If this is your first time here, click the ‘Abuse Allegations’ tab at the top or the ‘true stories’ category on the right to read about the abuse.
On Saturday, some local alumni and I held a protest at the Dallas Acquire the Fire. We wanted to raise awareness about the dangers of the Honor Academy so we made signs and printed out flyers that had the blog address on them. Before the protest, I went online to make sure I understood my constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and free speech.
According to the law, I have the right to protest and hand out leaflets on public property, such as a public street or sidewalk. Luckily, the Dallas Acquire the Fire event was held at the Gexa Energy Pavilion in Fair Park.
Fair Park is a 277-acre National Historic Landmark, owned by the City of Dallas and operated under the management of Fair Park Administration a division of the Park and Recreation Department.
Given the fact that Fair Park is publicly owned property, I did not anticipate any trouble from the police.
That was naïve.
When we first arrived around lunchtime, we stood just outside the entrance/exit of the arena, on what we believed was a public sidewalk. Within one minute, a uniformed police officer came and told us we had to move and that we were actually on private property. If you watch the video, you’ll notice that the officer refused to answer our questions about who owned this supposed “private property” and even more infuriatingly violated the free speech rights of the teens who wanted to speak with us. He ended by telling us that we had to keep moving, we were not allowed to stand still. I asked him if that was the law and he said it was. (I later discovered this was bull.)
(Video broken in 2 parts to protect the identity of other protestors.)
We were confused by this officer’s directions because it did not reflect our research, but we complied anyway and moved to a significantly less impactful spot, standing on the sidewalks where cars pass as they come and go from the event. At this location, it was impossible to talk to people unless they walked about 300 feet out of their way to specifically speak with us.
At first, the officer confirmed to us that this location was acceptable. By this time, many cars and buses were leaving for lunch so lots of attendees were able to see our signs as they left the property. As a line of cars exiting the premises grew, some rolled down their windows and asked us questions while they waited. We answered them as quickly as we could without causing them to delay traffic, usually by handing them a flyer and suggesting they visit the website. About 10-20 minutes after the officer moved us to this location, he came back and told us we had to move again. He told us that we were on “private property” since the owner mowed the grass adjacent to the sidewalk, that we were “standing still,” and that we were “blocking traffic” and therefore not allowed to be on the sidewalk that we were currently occupying. At this point, I knew he was in the wrong and that I was doing nothing illegal. I walked past him, on the sidewalk, towards the arena, instead of away like he wanted me to. He threatened to call a squad car on me. I responded by telling him I wasn’t going anywhere. He specifically told me I could be there, I knew it was a public sidewalk and he had already watched us protest here for 10-20 minutes. He called the squad car, which did not intimidate me in the least. When he realized I wasn’t going to budge, he gave us new instructions not to talk to anybody in a car or hand out our flyer to them. I told him we would comply. He also mentioned that we could be in the parking lot area as long as we did not have our signs.
At this point, we had about 4 officers standing around us – and there were only 4 of us. And we were doing nothing illegal! For the first time, I can understand why people don’t like police officers.
Shortly after, the squad car showed up, and of course, his bluff was called and they didn’t even talk to me, much less arrest me.
As the youth groups were returning from lunch, one pastor said that he wanted to talk to us. My husband explained that we couldn’t block traffic to talk at length, so he laid down his sign and went into the parking lot to speak with the youth pastor. Less than a minute after starting the conversation, Heath Stoner arrived on the scene and told my husband “You can’t be here.” My husband replied, “I paid to be here” which apparently caught Heath off guard. He then slithered off to get a police officer, while some current staff member tried to convince my husband that the HA is awesome (lol). This officer then escorted my husband off the property but failed to give his name or badge number when my husband requested it.
Except for that original officer intermittently harassing us because we were at times, standing still, the rest of the day was thankfully, much less dramatic. Throughout the afternoon, groups of teens and adults would come talk to us and ask us what we were about. We had some good conversations and were able to share our concerns with many youth pastors and teens. We even had a couple of Teen Mania staff members come talk to us in a very respectful way and bring us some water. That was a nice gesture on their part and reminded me how sincere and genuine the lower level staff members and interns are.
If there was one thing I could change about our protest, I wish we could have made it clear via signage that we are Christians. It seems that many attendees assumed we were against Christianity and Jesus instead of understanding that we are protesting because of our Christian convictions. Overall, I was really surprised how little we were insulted. For every insult that was hurled at us, we got about five “Jesus loves you!” I’d say that’s a pretty good percentage for a Christian crowd.
Now that we’ve had time to reflect on yesterday’s events, we plan to seek clarification on some issues related to our constitutional rights as Americans.
- Is the original sidewalk where we stationed ourselves truly private property? How is that possible given that the entire area is publicly owned by the city of Dallas?
- Was the primary officer on the clock representing the Dallas Police Department or was he working as a security guard for a private entity?
- Why did a uniformed officer fail to identify himself when requested?
- Did a uniformed police officer(s) violate our civil rights of peaceful assembly and free speech? Did they properly exercise their power or engage in bullying, intimidation and harassment by making up laws that do not truly exist (constant walking, “private property,” etc.)
I plan to contact Dallas City Hall and the Parks department and will update you when I know more.
26 comments:
Anonymoussays:April 4, 2011 at 6:47 AMReply
Is there a clear way to make a link for new visitors to the site?
I think its great to direct people here to the site, but when they first start exploring it I would rather them see all our personal stories and experiences. The other stuff on the site is good, but it was our stories that laid the foundation for everything else.
Just a thought.
heartsfiresays:April 4, 2011 at 7:26 AMReply
I love Anon 6:47’s idea!
The thing that struck me from this post is how you were reminded that many low staffers and interns really do have a genuine heart. I think in dealing with Heath and Dave sometimes we as a community forget that most teens come to the HA because they have a true heart to seek God not because of hidden agendas. I think that it’s the affect of group think that the Leadership pushes on the interns that’s harmful and not the young teens themselves. My heart goes out to them because they were told one thing and while some may be fed because of amazing sacrifice on the low level staff and CA’s part they were largely lied to so they could be used for free labor and worse they pay for that privilege!
laynesays:April 4, 2011 at 8:55 AMReply
Bravo, Mica!
phoenixsays:April 4, 2011 at 10:24 AMReply
egarding your questions on your constitutional rights
1) unless Dallas/TX has some weird laws all sidewalks are public property.
2/3) Not sure if he was on or off duty – but he is required to give you his information when/if requested. The face that he didn’t indicates that he was in the wrong.
4) Yes and yes. You are allowed to peaceable assemble on any public property – and yes they were harassing you Heath Stoner included.
Kudos to you for standing up to them – and kudos to those at TM who kind and respectful of you. I hope there were some eyes opened as to whats really happening at the HA.
phoenixsays:April 4, 2011 at 10:30 AMReply
*Regarding…Ugg
Ericsays:April 4, 2011 at 11:03 AMReply
A “God Hates TM” sign would kind of send the wrong vibe, though… Perhaps we should brainstorm a Bible verse or two that could serve as a pithy takedown of HA’s false theology.
Kudos!
enlightenmentisntsoscarysays:April 4, 2011 at 11:27 AMReply
Great job guys! Seriously! I am so proud of you and thankful for your considerable efforts! I think we need to carry this on!! What city is next??
Anonymoussays:April 4, 2011 at 11:54 AMReply
I do bot believe it was right of you all to protest, because it could negatively influence atendees relationship with god, causing some not to get an encounter with God. Would you listen to their word after seeing protesters I do not believe you would thus you would not go to an altar call.
jeffsays:April 4, 2011 at 11:59 AMReply
I am looking forward to your updates RA! Great job, keeping things honest (on your part more than them) and peaceful!!!
Anonymoussays:April 4, 2011 at 12:03 PMReply
I’m not an expert but as I understand it: Even though the facility is “public property” it was being rented by a private group which gives the private group control over all the property covered in the rental agreement. Typically the group is required to provide security, and some rental agreements require them to pay the local police force for the extra hours to provide officers.
So, as I understand it, the officer is justified in having you move out onto the sidewalk, off of the “Park” property.
Of course, I may be wrong… It happens a lot. But it seems like this was the case in previous stories I’ve read.
Renaesays:April 4, 2011 at 12:15 PMReply
Next time I would consider filing a permit to protest. The WBC is a deplorable organization, but they don’t get kicked off of sidewalks because they strictly follow protocol. If you file a permit the police can’t make up bs laws because you have clear permission from the city to be there.
Shannon Kishsays:April 4, 2011 at 1:15 PMReply
Awesome job RA! I wish I could have joined you. I love the fact that Heath Stoner tried to bully you and your husband. That is priceless.
Ericsays:April 4, 2011 at 1:56 PMReply
Anon @ 11:54– Which do you think is really more likely to destroy somebody’s relationship with God: Seeing a protester holding a sign for 30 seconds, or being abused and bullied by professing Christians for a solid year?
Read through the nearly 100 true stories on this website. They are full of true accounts of people who were abused by Teen Mania and Honor Academy, which very negatively affected their faith. Some of them are now atheists or agnostics; others are struggling in their faith; others credit their return to faith with their rejection of Teen Mania’s doctrine.
One quote: “I feel like if what I experienced at the HA is what Gods love is really like than I don’t want it.” —Hannah’s story, 2010.
If you want to stop something that is turning people away from a relationship with the Lord, good for you! Just be sure you’re protesting something that actually hurts people’s view of God, such as Teen Mania Ministries.
Robbiesays:April 4, 2011 at 3:20 PMReply
Anon @ 12:03 – I wasn’t there, but my understanding is that Teen Mania rented a very specific area (Gexa Pavillion) inside of a much larger public park (Fair Park). RA was standing outside the entrance to the Gexa Pavillion, so any lease agreement that Teen Mania had with the city would likely have only covered the actual area of the park they were paying to use, and not the area where RA was standing.
Renae – In my experience as a protester, most cities will not issue permits for protests with small numbers of people where safety is not expected to be an issue….simply because it is a constitutionally-protected activity and the law prohibits cities from imposing “undue burdens” (such as requiring a permit) on free speech activities. The same is not true for large rallies, protests with props, protests that obstruct traffic….all of which you may need a permit for. RA’s protest did not fall into any of these categories.
WBC is often able to get permits because their protests are inflammatory and frequently create public safety issues, so they usually need police protection. Again, RA’s protest did not fall into this category.
Renaesays:April 4, 2011 at 4:11 PMReply
Got it, thanks Robbie. I wasn’t sure of the specifics, I just knew WBC hold very small protests and are not “chased off” the corners they protest on.
What else could RA have done to protect her rights? Is it just a matter of having knowledge of the laws and standing her ground? Or is there more she could have done?
Robbiesays:April 4, 2011 at 4:54 PMReply
Renae – Great questions! 🙂 Unfortunately, not a lot of easy answers….
Often times at protests, I’ve found that police don’t actually care much about what the actual laws are, and don’t respond kindly to people who try to educate them. Here’s an article I wrote about an experience I had: http://tinyurl.com/BaltoArrests
Protesters always have the option of standing their ground and asserting their rights….more often than not, this leads to their arrest and removal from the scene, whether or not they are ever actually charged with anything. So many activists have found that sometimes it is simply more productive to obey the police and move to a different area or disperse, even if the police are violating their rights.
However, if you really want to stand up for your rights during a protest, I’d recommend the following:
1) Try to get a property map of your protest location from the city beforehand–one which clearly shows property lines and who owns what. Oftentimes, police try to remove protesters for being on “private property. If you can show a police officer a document from the city which shows you are standing on public property, they will sometimes leave you alone.
2) Call the permit office beforehand. Although as I stated they will most often tell you that you do not need a permit, it helps if you have the name and number of someone you spoke with at the permit office that gave you that information.
3) HAVE A LEGAL OBSERVER (OR TWO)! A legal observer is someone who is there for the sole purpose of documenting everything that happens…he/she does not participate at all in the protest…no sign holding or leafletting. The LO job is to video tape the entire protest and take any notes that are important…like which cops show up (names and badge numbers!), what the cops say to the activists, how activists are being treated during an arrest, etc. Many states consider these videos/notes “protected attorney work product,” so they cannot be confiscated by the police, and having an impartial observer’s documentation can be invaluable in the event a case goes to court.
4) Connect with the local chapter of the ACLU or the National Lawyers Guild (NLG). Both of these groups can tell you about your local laws and offer assistance in the event your free speech rights are being violated.
5) Retain an attorney. I know this isn’t an option for a lot of people, but often the only way to prevent the police from interfering with free speech rights is to have the courts settle the matter. WBC had to sue a LOT of individuals and towns before they started to receive the “royal treatment” at their protests. Unfortunate, but true.
charlie brownsays:April 4, 2011 at 5:41 PMReply
Arthur: [grabs Dennis] Shut up! Will you shut up?!
Dennis: Come and see the violence inherent in the system. Help! Help! I’m being repressed!
King Arthur: Bloody peasant!
Dennis: Oh, what a giveaway! Did you hear that? Did you hear that, eh? That’s what I’m on about! Did you see him repressing me? You saw him, Didn’t you?
Sheena 🙂says:April 4, 2011 at 7:03 PMReply
Answering Eric’s comment (asking about Bible verses)…Maybe something to do with the Bereans, or “testing the spirits”, or those who claimed to work in God’s name but really worked in their own interests?
phoenixsays:April 4, 2011 at 7:39 PMReply
@charlie brown
I think we just became BFFs
Brad Ksays:April 5, 2011 at 9:18 AMReply
Well, this was pretty interesting.
C.R.says:April 12, 2011 at 9:45 AMReply
Wish I had known about this, I live in the area I would have been there rain or shine.
Anonymoussays:April 16, 2011 at 11:36 PMReply
I think it was strange that you protested. Really?? It just turned me off of this site. Up until this point I was okay with most of the stuff on here. Laters.
Recovering Alumnisays:April 17, 2011 at 10:34 AMReply
Anon – That’s too bad. I’m sorry it turned you off to the site but I have to follow my conscience.
jeffsays:April 18, 2011 at 12:14 PMReply
TWO-CENTS ALERT!
Hi RA, kudos on the protest. I hope it does some good, like causing people to question what’s going on inside Honor Academy. And even more, that the local police start realizing that your point is worthwhile. I mean WTH (heck) if you were one of their daughters I’d hope they’d be proud of you and not escort you out away from the action.
If it hadn’t been for the vandalism you and your hubby have had to deal with, HA leaders developing lies in order to attack you and your rep, etc., etc., I’d still think it was a worthwhile and substantive protest as allowed by our constitution.
But given you have had to face such things from these lying thugs dressed in Christian clothes it makes it even more understandable, not less.
Sisterlisasays:May 3, 2011 at 3:43 PMReply
Making teens get into a grave and covering them with insects and rodents is abusive plain and simple. People are always going to disagree about doctrines, but abuse that is punishable by our government laws is a good focus in getting help to stop those tactics and even shut them down.
Anonymoussays:February 3, 2014 at 11:57 AMReply
Great job being Christ-like.