By snoadmin
Intense debate that grabbed the attention of dozens of passers-by erupted in-between the University Bookstore and the Psychology Building Monday afternoon. Two University Police officers pulled one Cal State Long Beach student away from the discussions after he spit directly on one demonstrator’s face and knocked his large sign on the ground.
According to Lt. Fernando Solorzano, Alden Sajor Wood, 22, was not cited and was released at the scene after University Police detained him for a short time.
The man who was spit on, John Franklin, 65, from Cornerstone Ministries in Los Angeles, was one of the more vocal demonstrators.
Franklin said that after Wood spit on him, he “tried to do the turn the other cheek thing,” which “infuriated” Wood. Franklin, who often stood on a toolbox to make his presence known to the crowd, which ranged from 50 to 100 people, debated with members of the verbally disagreeing audience. The sign he held said “Don’t Go To Hell” on one side and “Repent” on the other, addressing various religious and political groups.
Franklin’s words reflected the views of Christian fundamentalists, much to the ire of several vocal detractors watching.
“This [debating] stuff is always hairy,” Franklin said. “We have a culture that has evolved into a pretty opinionated thing.”
One student who disapproved of Franklin dropped change in front him and then walked away, imitating an act often done to the homeless.
A second vocal demonstrator was Jason Storms, 28, from the Faithful Soldier School of Evangelism in Milwaukee. Storms said he was arrested at CSULB two years ago for allegedly violating free speech activities, but a few months ago the case against him was dropped.
Storms said he is doing an outreach program throughout Los Angeles and will be going to other college campuses later this week.
According to Storms, he was not on campus to convert students to Christianity, but rather to make them think about the rational basis of Christianity.
Storms said he knew Franklin but was unaware that Franklin was also going to be on campus at the same time.
Five University Police officers were present at the scene. They encouraged some of the onlookers to just leave, but also stressed that they should not block the public walkway.
Several students were upset at Franklin’s comments and debated with him. When Franklin criticized alcoholics and said Christian practices of drinking wine were not comparable, one student asked Franklin, “Do you think Jesus could walk on wine?”
At one point, Franklin asked the audience, “Do you think God loves everybody?” Much of the audience replied yes, to which Franklin retorted, “Wrongo!”
Some students even tried to rally a group to hug Franklin in an effort they hoped would appease him. Franklin refused and resisted the act.
Another onlooker accused Franklin of “being worse than a suicide bomber.”
Laura Osejo, a junior philosophy major, was upset that the speakers were on campus.
“I’m paying to be here,” said Osejo, “and this guy walks in here telling me I’m going to hell because I’m a ‘bisexual mouthy woman.'”
Brett Benson, a senior history major, said that Franklin was teaching tolerance while being intolerant, a move he called “hypocritical.”
“It’s complete and utter bullshit,” said Beau McCoy, a sophomore film student. “It’s all opinion. It just spreads hate.”
Other side-debates within the larger discussion included slavery and homosexuality.
According to Jeff Klaus, director of Student Life & Development, because CSULB is a public university, people can come to the campus and engage in activities that are protected by the First Amendment freedom of speech right.
“If there is any place in the world free speech activities should be occurring,” Klaus said, “it should be at a university, where people are encouraged to have free exchange of ideas.”
