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leslieRI

(This is an account by my wife, Leslie, of what we experienced at NOM-Rhode Island’s pro-marriage rally in Providence this past Sunday. –PW)

[UPDATE: You can see NOM’s video showing some of what Leslie describes here.]

Did you ever see that scene in one of the Narnia movies, where a battle is about to start and preparations are being made – when off in the distance there is a faint chanting and drumming? It grows louder and louder, till off in the distance the enemy is spotted. It’s terrifying. I’m not joking, the same thing happened to us Sunday in Rhode Island at the state Capitol. You see, Peter and I got this great idea to go a Rhode Island rally and support our counterparts in the defense of traditional marriage and visit our friends the Brown Family who would also be there. How was I to know that simply attending a “permitted” event (i.e., we had a permit) to show our support for traditional marriage would end with my family having to be escorted to our minivan by the police for our own protection.

You see, instead of wild enchanted animals drumming and preparing for battle, it was homosexuals in red shirts (and red-faced) with bullhorns and rocks, waving rainbow umbrellas. At least that is all I could see at first . . . just wave after wave of red shirts and rainbow umbrellas. It would have been comical if they were not all chanting and stomping their feet in unison coming around the capitol building toward us. They were actually organized so that they would stand still as a group (about 400 it seemed to me), then march forward in unison toward our group. Pause, chant, march…pause, chant, march. I was wise enough not to stare, but I will not forget the images of my oldest children: Isaac, Katharine & Elizabeth, clutching their friends’ hands and holding each other, mouths agape, looking quite terrified at the incoming crowd. They kept asking “who are they?”, “why do they have a rainbow flag?”, “are they coming here?”, “where’s Frannie?” I have never seen them so scared and I’m rather mad at myself for having put them there. I had no idea the worst was still to come.

The red gays, as I will call them, tromped from their “permitted” area – i.e. the area they had a permit to congregate at the front of the Capitol Building–down a side street about 500 feet away from us at the back of the building. I didn’t realize anything was happening until the speaker asked that we focus on our rally and not spectate. The street with the protesters was parallel to where we were standing and we could watch them chant tremendously loud with bullhorns, stomp, and wave their umbrellas (I happen to own one of these umbrellas that I now want to chuck) all the way down to our street level. Having little children I tend to stand near the back of all public gatherings. Suddenly three squad cars pulled onto the grass behind me and the children. The protesters eventually gathered about 100 feet behind us. Between us and them were the 3 police cars, hastily parked. The incoming protesters gathered at the end of this grassy area near the street and, though upset that they were permitted to gather so close and interrupt our rally (Jennifer Rorback Morse was giving a talk about adoption), I thought surely they would not come any closer. I was used to CT, where the police forcefully keep each rally on their side of the capitol. Not so in rough and tumble RI.

Their chanting (“take your hate out of our state” and vulgarities I have mentally blocked) and the marching in unison started again and each time I peered in back of me (again, we were on the fringe), they were closer. As I reflect now, I realize that their actions were intended to scare and intimidate us. They were not trying to move public opinion, convince legislators or explore the issues. They were angry and were trying to punish and provoke us. It worked; I was scared out of my mind. My heart raced and I tried to stay strong for the children, the speakers and other peaceful gatherers. I couldn’t understand, and still don’t, why the police and their “leaders” permitted what happened next.

My children were buzzing with anxiety (of course Frannie and Rose, my toddlers, were constantly running away). A handsomely dressed couple, sans children, asked me if “these girls” were mine. I said yes, and they informed me that they left their children home. “Gee THANKS”, I thought. A little note about the Rhode Island attendees . . . they were subdued, older, hunkered, weathered, it seemed – with few children present. The Browns and I were from out-of-state and obviously didn’t know what they knew about RI protests and the permissiveness of the Capitol Police. In retrospect, it should have made more of an impression and raised a red flag for me.

My children were not completely afraid because Peter and I were with them so they knew they would be protected. But some of our children began to whimper as the protesters moved closer. It was at this point, about 30 feet away, that my children got a good look at the face of hate. I periodically looked back over my shoulder only to be treated to sneers and chants. I averted my eyes from the signs, especially the ones that were held close to genitals with large black arrows saying something about “dirty”. I’m not exaggerating, they were vulgar and disgusting. Elizabeth and Katharine, whom I’ve taken so much care to teach to read, got an eyeful, I’m sure. The chanting continued and we could no longer hear the speakers. Isaac, my six year old boy, frighteningly asked me if they were going to “get us”. I told him to rest assured that the police would protect us. But oh Dear God, what was happening, I do not know, because the police did NOT protect us.

I have a stubborn streak when it comes to democracy and standing up for the right to petition the government, vote, speak, and peacefully assemble. I don’t back down from a fight, but it was at that point that I started to look for a way to exit. I gathered my bewildered and frightened children to the double stroller. Grabbed my giant purse/diaper bag and looked around. To my horror, it was at that point that the police completely failed. Our small group of pro-marriage attendees was surrounded on every side by the protesters. And, I’m not speaking “metaphorically” surrounded. I mean that they formed a tight circle with a perimeter about 3 feet from where I was standing. We could not leave. Rosie, my 3 year old, informed me at that point that she REALLY had to use the potty. It increased my urgency to find an escape. (Poor little Rosie, we never did get her to the potty till we got home later that evening.)

At that point my husband arrived. I had dispatched him earlier when I heard a scuffle over the microphone and Brian Brown asking the police to remove the protesters – from the podium! Apparently there were lesbians making-out at the base of the podium, with 3 other protesters wrestling for space at the podium with Brian. Peter was yelling to the police to do something. They refused and informed Peter that the protesters “had a right to be there”. Unbelievable. Now, Peter and I don’t “make out” in front of the children. I’m not sure my children have ever seen people getting-it-on, so to speak. Until now. My heart is sinking as I type this. Maybe I should have been more libertine with the physical acts they saw on TV or at parties, so they would not have been so shocked. But really? I honestly believe those protesters thought it was their duty to “educate” my children in such a manner. It is an example of how this will not stop at gay “marriage”. Their intention is to forcibly change all aspects of our culture, even if it means educating our children for us.

My friends. I enjoy a good debate. I think rallies and protests are a wonderful part of the democratic process. But nobody has a right to interrupt our right to peacefully gather and petition the government. We had a permit, we followed their rules. Using tactics to scare and intimidate is NOT democracy. . . it’s hate, it’s bigotry, it’s fascism. For all their talk about “love”, the truth was put on display yesterday. Gay “marriage” is not about love – it is a selfish disorder, it is love without God, focused on adult desires and forceful acceptance. It has never been about true love . . . sacrificial love. Otherwise they would not have ambushed our rally and physically taken over the microphone yesterday using the tactics of intimidation and fear. I’m sure many people would say “we got what we deserved” and take delight in my family’s fear. But remember – the gay protesters were the ones who ambushed our gathering. If the roles were reversed, the media would raise a storm of protest. And demands of repudiation would be issued, and probably received. Others (including myself at this point) would question the wisdom of participating in such a rally. But peacefully petitioning the government is a worthy fight. At this point in history, our fight may just be for the right to simply congregate in public. A fight to retain a place in the public square–something that was so forcefully taken from us yesterday, with the complicity of the police.

I am so proud of Brian and the other speakers. I remember quotes from Chesterton and William Wilberforce being loudly expounded as they wrestled with the protesters at the microphone. It gave me courage. Next, the protesters continued their procession around our group to the back of our podium. Of course, this was all carefully orchestrated by their “handlers”. Their leaders were instructing them when to move, what to chant, where to go. They proceeded to a spot directly behind the podium (in the blazing sun) and stood mocking us (and America) with flags and signs on the granite stairs leading up to the Capitol. I was somewhat relieved because this actually made the speakers easier to hear and nobody was in my family’s personal space.

Each speaker was shaken. I could barely see them but their voices periodically squeaked or shook. I admire their bravery greatly, and they gave some pretty excellent and inspired speeches. The children took up a game of backward duck-duck-goose and things were looking up. We were instructed to pray heartily for the protesters, remember where we came from and who we were, and not to react with violence if confronted. Remember hundreds of protesters were poised above us on the stairs, glaring at us like birds-of-prey. That is not to say they were quiet, they were quite loud and obnoxious reacting to the speeches. Though they did get quieter during the actual praying.

I was apprehensive at the time of dismissal. How was this going to end? Rather dramatically it turns out. As Brian gave the signal to disperse, the protesters started to sing “Hey, Hey, Hey – Good bye!”. Gladly, other music was played over our sound system. The crowds were breaking up but my children were playing so sweetly with the Browns. And I wanted to make the re-connect and stay. Unfortunately for us, a small band of protesters that earlier stormed the microphone was still “hopped up” on hate. Looking for a little more action they turned to my little children. It was Sue [Brown] who heard them say, as they walked toward them . . . “Hey, don’t let your parents teach you to be haters.”

Sue leapt like a cougar across the grass separating the children and them. She told them to mess with a mother, if they wanted action. I jumped in right away (in my mind) and told them they were asking for trouble, and to “beat it” – poor choice of words, I know. That they were really going to “get it” now. It was lame. This was all very loud and the police . . . well, I realize now, just fancied themselves as “observers”- kind of like the UN. They had no intention of protecting or preventing harm.

The protesters refused to retreat and more red shirts showed up. My little Frannie and Rose kept coming to my knees, and Max to Sue’s. Did I tell you that Sue is about 6 months pregnant and had 6 children there herself? Anyway, statements such as “I’ll make your children gay” and “what about me, I used to be a boy too” were spat at us. I tried to pull Sue away because it was obviously not going to end well, and honestly, these protesters looked like they were about to pass out (remember, they had been in the sun). I exclaimed to the police that they were “attacking” my children. Which, in addition to approaching them on foot – if you accost me in front of my children, you’re attacking my children. Perhaps a poor word choice, but I was scared. Then, the one red shirt who was actually trying to convince the others to leave – turned on me and started shouting that I was a “FREAKIN LIAR!!!!!” A “LIAR” she kept yelling and pointing at me. I ran up and said, “are you going to attack me! Come and get me!” and nearly chest-bumped her companion. I think that is when the photographer for the local newspaper captured the moment for posterity. Sigh.

At this point the kids were staring and people were yelling, in one motion I swirled and grabbed Sue then I swung to the other side of my friends and family and started praying at the top of my lungs. Now, I had recently re-read a magazine article about Bobby Jindal’s first hand account of an exorcism. In his panic, he started yelling “Hail Mary’s” from the corner of the exorcism room because that is the only thing he could remember. And Our Mother in Heaven is quite powerful. So in my apparent panic and in an effort to distract the children from the ensuing madness – I started yelling Hail Mary’s, interspersed with prayers for our opponents who had “obviously suffered some childhood trauma that made them gay” and for the other attendees including the police. It’s one of those slow-motion moments. I’m really dumbfounded, because I’m not a big public prayer or a leader in spiritual matters. Must have been the Holy Spirit, and it was great.

Things started to break up and the police stood between us and them. We asked the police to discourage the protesters from yelling to my kids that they were going to “abduct them and make them gay”, etc. In response we were told to “move our kids”. To where!?!

I was actually concerned about the long walk back to the car – we were about 5 minutes away and at one point had to walk through a train station. After re-connecting with the Browns for a few minutes we realized we should go. Sue and I decided that it would probably be unsafe for them to give us a tour of their Marriage Bus (I did see crowds around it as we were driving away). I asked for a police escort to our van. A hefty officer and a seminarian friend escorted us away from the Capitol to the street. Where, at that point, the officer saw a buddy in a car and poignantly abandoned us. So, we slowly made it back to our car with our seminarian friend. I checked the van over, as I regularly do for key marks, loaded the children, and split. I drove around the Capitol to check on the Browns, who actually had to “break down” all the sound equipment and travel on the marriage bus to their hotel. I lay in bed that night whispering prayers for them because I couldn’t get out of RI fast enough. I hope they are safe. On the way home we debriefed the children. They seem high-spirited, but I have the sort of kids that like to mull it over. They all said that was “crazy”. Yes, indeed. I expect them to talk more about it in the upcoming weeks and months. And the Lord knows, they will have something to “remember when” with the Brown children when they get older.

30 Responses to “We Brought Children. They Brought Rocks.”

  1. on 21 Jul 2010 at 6:53 amRich

    Leslie:

    We are so proud of you and your courage for standing for marriage with this mob threatening your lives. This situation needs to be addressed with the authorities in RI. I cannot believe the good people of RI would support such behavior for a moment if they knew about this. It is all part and parcel of the homofascist movement, which is fully supported and encouraged by the Ruling Class in America.

  2. on 21 Jul 2010 at 7:07 amKaren Miller

    THIS IS SHOCKING!!

  3. on 21 Jul 2010 at 7:59 amDavid D. Ferrero

    I appreciate your “blow by blow” description. That must have been quite a sight to behold. How can people be so full of hate? I don’t think that all of them in our nation go that far.

    We need to ask the Lord how to pray for our enemies,don’t we? Pray for those who despitefully use you.

    I can’t understand how the police can stand by the way they did. If anyone took pictures of what you witnessed, they should send copies to those in authority over the the police department .

    Sincerely, in Christ, our LIFE (Col. 3:1-4)

    David D. Ferrero

  4. on 21 Jul 2010 at 8:12 amVin

    This is an abamination. Unfortunately, these occurances will continue and increase. People look at me with doubt when i say that we are heading for civil war. After reading this I have no doubt I am correct.

    I am truely glad I did not attend because I would be in jail right now. Unfortunately, I react with speed and severity when ANYONE threatens my family.

  5. on 21 Jul 2010 at 8:15 amMerlyn Gaspar

    Unbelievable – but I’m not surprised. I’ve seen enough of the gays behavior in San Francisco. They have an agenda and they will not stop; neither can we. Jesus gave His life for us and we must be willing to give ours for the gospel’s sake.

    Marriage between one-man-one-woman is part of the gospel. Keep up the good work.

    I think legal action should be taken against the RI police. I

    I recommend you call ACLJ – American Center for Law & Justice, Jay Sekulow. I support him as well as FIC because he does such great work defending all sorts of cases like this and is frequently before the Supreme Court.

    Praying and standing with you –
    A faithful supporter of FIC
    God Bless, Brian & Peter and your families for the sacrifice you are making. Remember haw the Jews suffered for being Jews, it is the same kind of hatred, basically they [the protesters] hate Jesus and unless they repent we know their future – God forbit.

  6. on 21 Jul 2010 at 8:37 amjmjss7

    Dear Leslie,
    We were the couple standing next to you who asked if the children were yours. We share your feelings regarding what happened that day, and I would like to explain that we asked if they were yours, then moved a little to the left for 2 reasons: 1, to give you easier access, or a little path, to them should things get ugly, which they looked like they were about to get, and 2, to stand more in between them and the people behind us- not that we made a very good shield for their little eyes, but it was an attempt. I mentioned that we left our kids at home that day- not because we are weathered Rhode Islanders, rather because through prayerful consideration we decided at the last minute to leave them with Grandma….just in case. I whispered to my husband that those were your children as they marched military style up behind us. Ours were at home and I didn’t see your husband nearby (though I may have just not seen him) I wanted my husband to be on alert that there were little ones in front of us that may need to be protected and to know which woman was their Mom. I really thought that we were about to get assaulted. I was praying the Rosary.
    Things do get ugly inside our State House when it comes to testifying on bills; bills regarding life issues. And yes, I leave my kids at home for those things….but they watch it on Capitol TV from home and pray and cheer for our friends who are there testifying. This event was different. It was outside on a Sunday afternoon- I am certain it was the Blessed Mother whispering to us to leave our kids at home that day, and also to split as soon as it was over.
    I hope that you understand that we were praying for you and your family, and were watching out for them during the speakers; you are our family in Christ, even though we had never met.
    Pax et Bonum.

  7. on 21 Jul 2010 at 9:05 amMaria Rawlinson

    Leslie, I just finished reading your account of what you, Peter the children and the Brown’s went through while (what you thought would be a peaceful rally) in Providence. My heart aches with grief with what they put you through & my grandchildren. All of whom are innocent and had never seen such anger and hate before. I’m so sorry that all of you went through this and you & the children even feared for your lifes. How frightening and inhuman to do this to all those innocent children. It reminds me of the hate that was showed toward the African Americans during the peace rallys down South in the 60’s. I was young than. Not as young as my grandchildren, but will never forget it. Especially the looks on their faces of hate and the vulgar name calling. Hopefully they will be able to learn something positive from this experience. Even though it was freightening for them. I know in your wisdom and with God’s help you will find a way of doing this.

  8. on 21 Jul 2010 at 9:09 amLeslie Wolfgang

    Oh thank you jmjss, I am so grateful for your presence and the partial shield you DID provide for the children. You are a lovely couple. I admire the tenacity of the Rhode Island participants. You seem battle-hardened yet persevere with complete love in the face of all those obstacles – even your own capitol police. I was really more aggravated at the time with myself, than anyone there (I penned this essay Sunday night). Nobody likes knowing that they have unwittingly exposed their children to danger. We should keep the Brown family in our prayers because they really don’t have a choice this summer. God bless you for being there and for writing here today. I’m glad my account captures what you experienced also. Thank you also to everyone on this blog for your supportive comments.

  9. on 21 Jul 2010 at 9:15 amSharon

    Leslie,

    Your account of what took place in RI is just shocking.
    I felt as though I was right there with you. As a mother, I can only imagine the utter fear you must have experienced. (you may be on the fast track to sainthood now, sister.)

    Thank you for shedding light on just how much hatred and “agenda” is behind this movement. God was protecting you (though the police did not).

    Our prayers are with your family.

    “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.”

  10. on 21 Jul 2010 at 9:41 amJohn Donovan

    I think they know deep down that they’re harming themselves and one another and for that reason it’s important to them to suppress the truth. It’s an addiction. I’ve done a lot of backing and forthing with these people, and the reality is that there’s no much point in opposing them directly. What matters is what the nongay 98% think, and so long as they think this is just about the other 2%, they’re not going to understand enough or care enough to turn this around.

    Here’s what I think has to happen from the rhetorical viewpoint, and please share this with Peter (whom I met along with Brian in Hartford a few years ago). It has to be understood that (1) during the last four decades we’ve seen a quadrupling of violent crime, incarceration, and other social dysfunctions; (2) that the link between that and economic and public-policy trends is weak, while the connection with family breakdown is extremely strong; (3) that family breakdown has resulted from the weakening of public opinion against premarital sex, adultery, casual divorce, and most recently, homosexuality. You see where I’m going: The more it’s cast in narrow terms, the more the argument favors homosexuality; the more that people are connecting the dots, seeing the big picture, the more it favors the restoration of a strong family framework within which love may be maximized. (Ironically, you can find a good description of the sexual revolution, including this latest phase of it, homosexuality, in the gay encyclopedia online — I think it’s glbtq.org and type in sexual revolution in their internal search engine — only that it doesn’t discuss the catastrophic consequences.) I spent decades as a public-policy writer for CEOs and I’m convinced this is the way to go.

  11. on 21 Jul 2010 at 11:12 amJuniper

    I just saw Father Corapi on EWTN this weekend talking on the topic of spiritual battle.
    What happened in RI reminds me of one of the things he said: The 3 things always present when the devil is involved are multiple personalities, nudity and violence.
    Just know that all we have to do is follow Jesus…he will do the rest. “The Battle Belongs to the Lord”, or so the song goes?
    Hopefully some day these protesters will realize that the greatest love anyone can have for another is caring about their soul and where they will spend eternity. With this kind of love, it is not always that “Hallmark card feeling,” because it involves the rooting out of sin and changing behavior, which can be very painful at times. Only by God’s grace.

  12. on 21 Jul 2010 at 1:35 pmEllen

    God bless you, Leslie, and your entire family for your tenacity to the Truth. Good for you for enlisting the help of our Blessed Mother! We’re praying for you and the Browns. Keep up the great work!

  13. on 21 Jul 2010 at 3:16 pmKathleen

    I am so annoyed at myself for not being there! I would have been right in the midst of it with you, doing my darndest to protect any children present!

    I have been at Connecticut State House rallies, and all I can say is I’ve seen the hate up close. I was called vulgar names and yelled at, by gay fascists. It is easy to see the face of hate and evil. Yet I was exhilirated by the opportunity to do “something for the Lord”. However small, it felt great. My husband, a reticent commenter, noted I never looked happier.

    Yet I can well fathom your fear, especially with your children there. Unbelievable, and having lived in Rhode Island for 15 years, I am somewhat suprised, and definitely saddened. Rhode Island is a liberal state I guess, much like Massachusetts. It is a “Catholic” state, but what kind of Catholics allow this madness?? Thank God for the priest, but why must we always apologize for our viewpoint? Why must we always constantly reassure we don’t hate, we love? There is a time and place for love, but it makes us look unsure of our position. Marriage is for ONE man and ONE woman! If we cannot hear speeches on it, our rights are being certainly denied by the Nazi’s who live among us and call themselves persecuted!

    We (you) all must persevere. We all must show up at rallies. Darn it, I”m so frustrated. I will make a contribution. God bless the Brown and Wolfgang families, and all supporters. I hope the children forget quickly.

  14. on 21 Jul 2010 at 3:55 pmSuzi Porter

    Your essay was absolutely chilling, and your courage supernatural. Your children will have the image of their courageous and loving parents’ reaction to balance the searing image of hate that they were inadvertently exposed to. As a former CT police officer, I am disgusted at the behavior of the RI Capitol police, but as I am sure you have figured out, the gay agenda has obviously infiltrated that agency!God Bless you in your efforts to speak the Truth.

  15. on 21 Jul 2010 at 4:52 pmSusan

    Oh boy, now I’m riled up having read your account!! I am ashamed to say that I grew up in RI, though I haven’t lived there in many years. I wish I could say that I am surprised at the treatment that you received, but alas, I’m not… Providence itself is an utter bastion of loony liberalism, what with Brown University up on the hill. We would get mocked and verbally assaulted as Catholic high school students just for standing there in our school uniforms waiting for the public bus to cart us off to school. Thanks for standing firm in your desire to defend marriage and for reminding me why I never want to move back to RI with my 6 children!!

  16. on 21 Jul 2010 at 5:00 pmJes

    Someone asked how people can be filled with such hate. I truly believe that, for most of the gay population, it is directly tied in with deep seated self loathing, but, if they direct that inwards, it would kill them, so they direct it outwards on people that are different than they are, i.e, straight people.

    I have a difficult time hating gay people, as my son is gay, and I have known since he was very small, so I can’t fathom that he wasn’t born that way. I know that many people here will not agree with me on that, but he has been raised Catholic and is actually very against gay marriage himself, as marriage, in his eyes, is for procreation. He struggles with relating to most of the gay population, as he does not buy into the “victim” mentality that so many gays do. He is ultra conservative, very right wing, and even at 19 has resigned himself to the fact that he will probably be alone for most of his life, because he can’t find anyone in his demographic with whom he relates on a political level.

    Leslie, it’s really too bad he wasn’t there with you. He’s 6’5′ and 300 pounds. He would have been great defense for you, and he would have been happy to do so!

  17. on 22 Jul 2010 at 12:26 pmHarriet T

    This is definitely a sign of things to come & indicative of what the homo/lesbian movement is about. It is a partial picture of what they will do to achieve what they want. They are not really concerned about being ‘married’ – their ultimate goal is to justify, legalize, ‘normalize’, their ungodly, abnormal lifestyles.
    They know with the current Administration in the White House that now is their time as this Administration is pushing the idea that everything must be tolerated, except God & His people, & His values.

  18. […] Note: Leslie Wolfgang, wife of the executive director of the Family Institute of Connecticut, wrote about her children’s expereince at the Providence rally where pro-SSM protestors stormed the podium, harassed mothers and children.  The following is excerpted from the FIC blog. […]

  19. on 22 Jul 2010 at 2:47 pmVito Oliver

    Your account is total and utter bulls*it. If you bring children to a protest, then it is YOUR fault that they saw this. Your message of hate and bigotry will not go unanswered. If you really wanted to protect your kids, you wouldn’t be exposing them to the vicious lies and hate of NOM. Like I said to you direct at the rally, you’re a pathetic mother and deserve to have your kids taken so they can be raised by parents who love and show compassion. I truely feel bad for your kids and will pray for them with the hopes that they do not grow up to be facist bigots like their parents.

  20. on 22 Jul 2010 at 3:05 pmLeslie Wolfgang

    Thank you Vito for your prayers. I know how hard it is to pray for people you think hate you, because I’ve been praying all week for you.

  21. on 22 Jul 2010 at 3:10 pmjmjss7

    As a Rhode Islander I need to add….Let’s not forget that RI is the last holdout on this marriage issue in New England. We should expect opposition (NOT the degree to which it was taken on Sunday). Lots of good is happening in our little state- even though they might be small wins or vetoes here and there. Praise God for the little victories. We have a good governor who will soon be out of office (term limits) and we have an excellent Bishop here as well as other members of the clergy who fearlessly come out in support of life and family. Those of us on this side may be small, but we are mighty in prayer. One of the first things my husband and I noticed when we arrived Sunday was that we only recognized about 10 people that were there- this was wonderful news! New faces! We NEED people of Faith and good will to come forward and be counted. In the paper it said that they had people brought in even from New York to attend their counter rally. What do I say to that? Massachusetts and Connecticut families- come to the 2nd Annual Marriage Celebration! Stand with us and be counted! It was a beautiful day last year- let’s make this year even greater. It falls on a Feast Day of Our Lady. Let’s stand together against this attack- an attack that is, in essence, an attack on The Holy Family.

  22. on 22 Jul 2010 at 5:25 pmJames

    If the police will not protect free Christian speech and Christian children then a group of brave men and women should be formed to do so.

    I propose that a group of 20-50 people be formed who can intervene and place themselves between these gay fascists and future Christian protests. The group could first practice non-violent intervention and if confronted with violence use limited force to prevent these groups from disrupting events. Yes, I am advocating that Christians use violence (limited) to prevent our rights from being violated.

    I don’t like hurting anyone but it is wrong for Christians to be passive in the face of this growing evil. It is akin to the Christians who did not listed to Winston Churchill’s advice that the UK arm itself in order to deter Hitler. Tens of millions of people died because some Christians were unwilling to effectively confront evil.

  23. on 22 Jul 2010 at 7:50 pmPaul from Brooklyn

    May The Lord God enter the heart of Vito Oliver. May Jesus touch Vito Oliver deeply and make him realize the error of his thinking and his ways. May Vito Oliver be forever Blessed and Changed by the Healing and Cleansing Compassion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, who Lives and Reigns with The Father and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and Ever and Ever and Ever and Ever and Ever. Amen.

  24. on 23 Jul 2010 at 11:26 amTory

    Leslie, I am sure God has protected your children from the evil which they saw.

    Remember Romans 8:28–We know that all things work for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.

    God will turn July 18th to good for them AND for you, since you clearly were doing His work. As long as the other side clings to its disordered “love,” it will never understand love. Instead, it will equate love with “acceptance,” rather than the “charitable speaking of the truth.”

    That is why they say we “hate.”

    Your post to Vito was beautiful, and so true!
    May God continue to bless your work and your family.

    🙂

  25. on 23 Jul 2010 at 8:21 pmbette jayne & hugh

    unbelievable please tell us what we can do, peter…this is beyond anyones imagination – thanx

  26. on 24 Jul 2010 at 8:51 amDave

    Vito was the guy in the blue T-shirt in the picture of Leslie defending herself from the shouting gay activists, and he is the same guy who appears later in a photo at the podium confronting Brian Brown. He has openly commented about his role in the protests at web sites like prop8trialtracker and towleroad. The web site Back2Stonewall acknowledges Vito as being from New York’s “Queer Rising”. And he even posted his own video about the confrontation on YouTube to tell his side of the story, “Vito Oliver’s Response to NOM (Albany & Providence)”.

    He claims to be concerned that groups like NOM and FIC are trying to create a theocracy, a “Christian Reich”. He has opined that we are no better than the KKK and the Nazis. His page on MySpace proclaims that “the devil tips his hat to me”, and arrogantly displays a photo of a protest sign that says “F*** GOD! IF HE’S A BIGOT LIKE U.” And, yes, this is the same Vito who Brian Brown aptly described as the so-called “face of tolerance” during the confrontation at the podium.

    Leslie, you need to know you were not being faced down by some local Rhode Islander, but by someone who made it their mission to come out and forcibly attack the NOM rally. Activists like this are actually seeking to push the edge of the envelope as it relates to civil disobedience, and some of them truly hope to get arrested at events like this because they think it helps their cause.

    I believe their militancy is rooted in fear. And, get this, they are afraid of US. Yes, they are afraid of sweet little church-going folks who hold firm to their faith, and who trust in the Lord. They say hateful things about wanting your children to be taken away from you, because they know deep down it is true when Scripture says “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” (Proverbs 22: 6).

    While we are saying “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!” and “lead me in the way everlasting”, they are saying “F*** God!”. While we are saying “The LORD is my strength and my shield” and “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer”, they are trying to intimidate by shaking their bottles filled with stones. Just do some Bible study on these passages, and see what prayer can do. In the realm of spiritual conflict between good and evil, prayer can be one of our most powerful weapons.

  27. on 24 Jul 2010 at 6:49 pmPeter

    Comment posted on a gay website in response to NOM’s RI video:

    That douchebag shouting about kidnapping their kids just made hundreds of people hate us even more. He served us all up to them on a silver platter, he gave them EXACTLY what they wanted. The more approachable and kind our side seems, the faster we win our rights.

  28. on 25 Jul 2010 at 3:24 pmAnne

    There’s more interesting stuff in that comment thread (editing of profanity mine):

    No. 3 · 7
    What would happen…if we actually did start killing them…?
    6 4
    Posted: Jul 22, 2010 at 11:12 am · @Reply · [Flag?]

    No. 4 · jj
    Only good, my friend. Only good.
    4 3
    Posted: Jul 22, 2010 at 2:02 pm · @Reply · [Flag?]

    No. 5 · Pitou
    @7: We’d probably be a lot further along in this battle then we are now. Violence makes impact, shows we’re not f*cking around anymore. Although, I’m very intolerant of violent people. It’s unnecessary.
    1 4
    Posted: Jul 22, 2010 at 2:07 pm · @Reply · [Flag?]

    No. 6 · Jeff K.
    I think the question is at what point are we justified in using violence to secure our rights?
    2 1
    Posted: Jul 22, 2010 at 2:44 pm · @Reply · [Flag?]

  29. on 26 Jul 2010 at 7:40 pmLeslie Wolfgang

    Thank you everyone for your prayers and support. We will not be silenced. Like Anne showed, the one person captured on video was and is being supported by many others. Additionally, there were many times that afternoon he made the same threat in front of everyone. It wasn’t in the “heat of the moment”.
    What the people who attacked us don’t understand, may never understand or want to understand is that the sacrifice we made last week wasn’t just for my children, future generations or society at large – we, I, sacrificed some of our innocence for THEM (ya, I know, “thanks”). Society does gay people no favor by creating “gay marriage”. Homosexuality is a cross. But it is one they can bear with dignity, with society’s help and faithfullness. “Gay marriage” will not take away that cross, but will only mask and perpetuate its inherent sadness and loss. No, we will not give up and be silenced. But not just for us, but because I will not give up on them.

  30. on 28 Sep 2010 at 3:04 pmLinda

    Why not ask our illustrious Attorney General to file a lawsuit in your behalf? He seems to be “sue-happy” for every other cause, especially toward elderly men who stand at Bridgeport Abortion Clinics!

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