Their most recent high-profile protests have included a high-profile bus ride to object to religious universities and military academies with anti-gay policies as well as a march to the Focus on the Family headquarters in Colorado Springs, but today members of Soulforce have planted themselves firmly at military recruiting centers across the country. And they aren't moving.
Over a dozen people, including Soulforce member Jacob Reitan (far right), are currently seated inside a recruiting office at the Army National Guard in Roseville, Minnesota. Andy at Eleventh Avenue South sat in with group, which plans to stay until they are forcibly removed, probably around 6pm this evening. He reports that the protest thus far has been jovial and upbeat: “The military recruiters at the center were incredibly gracious and treated us all like guests. It was clear that many staff there held negative views of DADT, and would rather see LGBT people openly serve, even if that was never the official statement from anyone. They set up tents, and made everyone as comfortable as possible.”
The mood was a bit less convivial in center city Philadelphia, where five young people were arrested for blocking the sidewalk in front of an Army recruiting station. Twenty others stood silently in front of the building with black tape over their mouths, according to KYW Newsradio. Among the group was Jarret Lucas, who said that anti-gay discrimination is just the latest form of intolerance that the United States must address: “This country has a legacy of tragic experiences such as slavery and segregation. This is another form of discrimination that needs to be addressed by the American public.”
Today's events are the kick-off to at least 30 similar sit-ins across the nation.
UPDATE: Four people have been arrested at the Roseville, Minnesota sit-in.
“Don't Ask, Don't Tell” Protest in Roseville [eleventh avenue south]
Center City ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Protest Leads to 5 Arrests [kyw]
