Groups protest in Library Quad
January 7, 2007
Sacramento State students came back to campus after the winter break to find a father and son from the Church of the Divide near Placerville protesting against racism and sodomy in the name of Martin Luther King Jr., Monday.
Dick Otterstad and his son, Luke Otterstad began protesting at 7:30 a.m. to “remember the legacy of Martin Luther King as a Christian Minister who fought against the sin of racism in his time.”
The pair stated that they were fighting against racism and sodomy because it is morally wrong and sinful.
Three hours after the protest began active members of the Queer Straight Alliance came out to speak their minds.
The alliance stated that they had to come out to “stick up for themselves,” and that the use of Martin Luther King’s name to fight against sodomy is “terrible.”
Graduating senior Andria Giorgi said that protesters like the Otterstads tie a situation like “racism,” which is not acceptable in today’s society into another situation that they want to be not acceptable like homosexuality. “They are using a symbol of acceptance and anti-prejudice to promote their own prejudices,” Giorgi said.
Dick said that the correlation between racism and sodomy is that they are morally wrong and sinful, and would be fought against by a Christian minister like King because of that, not because it is socially unacceptable.
Both parties protested peacefully side by side. “(They’re) fine,” Dick Otterstad said about the opposing party. “That’s the beauty of the United States. (You can have a) peaceful dialogue and debate,” he continued.
“Everyone has the right to their own opinion,” Giorgi said. “We just want to make sure our voice is heard.”
Nika Megino can be reached at [email protected]
Related Sites:
