Contact: John Ritchie, American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property, 717-495-5427
FAIRPORT, N.Y., June 6, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Volunteers with the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property (TFP) were assaulted while peacefully demonstrating for traditional marriage in Fairport, New York, on June 2.
As young TFP volunteers stood at the corner of Main Street and Church Street with signs, a pro-homosexualist hurled himself against the group's thirteen foot long banner inscribed with "God's Marriage = 1 Man & 1 Woman." The banner, held by three volunteers, was knocked down and violently torn to pieces.
Watch video footage of the attack here.
The assailant also threatened to destroy the group's cameras used to document their campaigns for moral values. "I'll smash your camera," he said.
Approaching another TFP volunteer who was holding a sign that read "Honk for Traditional Marriage," the aggressor said: "Are you going to give me your sign, or do I need to rip it up too!?"
In a separate incident at the same demonstration, another supporter of "gay marriage" threw a beer bottle at TFP volunteer Michael Shibler from a moving vehicle. The glass bottle hit him on the forehead, causing it to swell and bleed. Local police are investigating both incidents.
"These bully tactics do not even slightly dampen my resolve to continue promoting the truth about marriage in charity. Our cause is noble and we will win," said Shibler.
"Some say that same-sex 'marriage' doesn't harm or affect anybody. Well, I think my throbbing forehead is a good example of how it does harm people. Anti-family proponents would like to completely silence my first amendment right to free speech," he said. "While demanding tolerance for what they call 'diversity,' they are utterly intolerant of opposing viewpoints."
TFP, a Catholic organization, was distributing flyers titled "10 Reasons Why Homosexual 'Marriage' Is Harmful and Must Be Opposed." It calls on New Yorkers to firmly and peacefully resist the advance of the so-called gay-rights movement.
