A Christian protester was arrested at a Pride event in Watertown, Wisconsin, sparking controversy and debate over free speech and religious freedom. Marcus Schroeder, a member of the Christian group Warriors for Christ, was handcuffed and detained by police while evangelizing at the city’s annual Pride in the Park event. A video of the incident went viral, drawing attention to the clash between religious beliefs and LGBTQ+ rights.
The video shows Schroeder reading from the Bible into a microphone when officers surround him and grab his equipment. They then proceed to handcuff him, citing a sound ordinance violation related to noise amplification. According to Jason Storms, a fellow member of the evangelical ministry who filmed the encounter, police also arrested three other young people from their group who were praying and talking to attendees at the event, allegedly on orders from city leaders.
Storms claims that the police violated their right to free speech, as Schroeder was preaching on a sidewalk across from the public event. He believes that the arrests were unjust and an infringement on their religious liberties. However, despite facing potential consequences, the Christian youth involved in the incident expressed pride and dedication to spreading their religious message.
In response to the incident, Schroeder stated, It’s actually an honor to be counted worthy to stand with the cloud of witnesses who have gone before us and been arrested for the sake of spreading Christ and his kingdom. He added that the arrests had the unintended consequence of garnering more attention and support for their cause.
According to Storms, the Christian group also took issue with aspects of the Pride event, claiming that performers dressed in lingerie and danced inappropriately in front of young children. Allegedly, little children were invited to give them one-dollar bills. The Unity Project of Watertown, the organization behind the Pride event, had encouraged families to attend, highlighting a drag story hour and children’s craft and play area as part of the festivities.
Despite garnering some backlash on social media, the arrest video did not receive significant attention in national media reports. Interestingly, another incident involving neo-Nazis disrupting the event gained more headlines. Storms made it clear that his ministry had no affiliation with the neo-Nazis and was focused solely on sharing their religious beliefs.
While the clash in Watertown highlights tensions between religious freedom and LGBTQ+ rights, it is crucial to consider and include different perspectives and opinions on the matter. The arrested individuals believed they were standing up for their faith and protecting innocent children from what they deemed inappropriate content. However, the LGBTQ+ community and their allies would argue that Pride events celebrate diversity and promote acceptance and inclusivity.
At the time of reporting, the Watertown Police Department and Watertown Mayor Emily McFarland had not responded to requests for comment on the arrests. The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing societal debates surrounding religious freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, and the boundaries of free expression.
