Riders attempt to attend Cornerstone chapel and are rejected
by Matt | April 24th, 2007 |Tuesday morning, members of the Equality Ride returned to Cornerstone University and attempted to join the students in the University’s chapel service.
As the Riders approached the building where the service would be held, a campus security officer approached us and told us that we would not be welcome. We stated that we intended to attend chapel and worship with students. He said, “Please don’t force me to call the police.”
I asked him, “So, you would really use the force of police to keep people out of a chapel service, a worship service?”
He looked down, didn’t answer and immediately turned around and got on his walkie-talkie.
While I was in the building where the chapel service would be held for just a little bit, I left long before the police arrived. Since I was arrested yesterday, I would have been immediately arrested without a chance to leave campus if the police had seen me there. On one hand, I really wanted to stay, no matter the cost (which would have been a felony trespassing charge, because of my Monday misdemeanor charge), but on the other, I know that I have many other commitments not only to the Ride but to other outside organizations and people.
An announcement was made inside, asking Soulforce to leave. Some of our members did get up to go and many students also began to walk out with us. We all eventually ended up on the sidewalk, at the edge of campus, speaking to students and faculty.
I’ll have video sometime… maybe, if I have time to put it together.
Technorati Tags: Soulforce, Equality Ride, Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids
One Response to “Riders attempt to attend Cornerstone chapel and are rejected”
That’s really sad for them to act that way with you. People should be more welcoming and civilized in manner, whether they agree with your stance on certain issues or not.
By Joe T. on Apr 24, 2007