CHRISITANS EJECTED FROM PHILLIES GAME;
HOMOSEXUALS INCITE RIOT 8/10/04

PHILADELPHIA – Yesterday, five Christians with the Philadelphia-based Repent America were ejected from the 2nd annual Philadelphia Philles' Gay Day after homosexuals and homosexual advocates began to incite a riot by pulling down the Christian's Gospel banner, which read, “HOMOSEXUALITY IS SIN, CHRIST CAN SET YOU FREE.”

Two homosexuals kiss in front of Repent America's banner as the crowd cheers them on.

During the 5th inning, the banner was unfurled, drawing the attention of the crowd. Within a few minutes, a security guard approached the Christians and demanded that they take the banner down. Moments later, two homosexual men stood up and began to passionately kiss in front of the banner, then two lesbian women did likewise, as the crowd cheered them on.

While other security guards began to approach the Christians, three young men emerged from the crowd and violently grabbed the banner, attempting to steal it in an effort to silence their message. "It became a struggle for us to keep our banner, until security ended it all by ejecting us from the ballpark, instead of just those acting disorderly," stated Michael Marcavage, director of Repent America. "Security officials accused us of inciting the riot due to the content of our message," he continued.

Throughout the ejection process, the security guards were physically abusive as one tackled Michael Marcavage to the ground. "It went from baseball to tug-of-war to football as I was tackled to the ground by a security guard for attempting to prevent the theft of our banner," Marcavage said. "The security guards were acting extremely irrational, and physically escorted us out of the ballpark," he continued.

Randy and Linda Beckman of Repent America displaying a Gospel banner outside of Citizens Bank Park

Prior to the game, Repent America displayed two other banners, one which read, “HOMOSEXUALITY IS SIN, CHRIST CAN SET YOU FREE!“ and the other, “PHILLIES PROMOTE HOMOSEXUALITY. STOP 'GAY DAY'!" The Christians engaged in open-air preaching, Gospel literature distribution, and individual conversation with the attendees despite the continuous harassment from a stadium security guard and a Philadelphia police officer. The officials demanded that the Christians cease from distributing their literature because of a "stadium policy", and ordered them to move across the street, claiming that they own the public sidewalk. However, the security guard did admit that the stadium received both state and city funding.

One group of over a dozen people, extremely shocked to learn of the Phillies' promotion of homosexuality, refused to attend the game and had their money fully refunded. "The group leader thanked us for warning them and appreciated our Christian witness," Marcavage said. "Two men from their group even rescued one of our signs from a homosexual who attempted to run off with it, while the police stood idly by," Marcavage continued. When questioned as to why the police officers did not intervene, an officer stated, "We don't care. We're just here for the overtime."

Inside the stadium, the Spruce Street Singers, a homosexual men's chorus, sang the national anthem, as other special recognition was given to the homosexual participants, including a lesbian woman who threw out the first pitch.

"The way that our group was treated by Phillies' security and the Philadelphia police is inexcusable," Marcavage said. "The homosexual agenda is now being thrown in the faces of America's children in a public arena, while these officials permit lewd acts and riotous behavior, as they silence the Christians," he concluded.

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