Where's the Love?

“We have had it!”

Students and faculty at Fresno State have had enough of spiritual violence being preached on their campus.

In response to the unwelcome intrusions of “hate speech” preachers Anthony Munoz and Matt Bourgault, a coalition of students, faculty and community members has been created. The group counts gays, straights, and women of all persuasions among its members.

Members will be taking part in the demonstration, organized by POWER–People Organized for Women’s Empowerment and Representation–countering the preachers’ messages of hate on Lincoln’s Birthday.

The demonstration will be in the Free Speech Area in front of the University Student Union.

Munoz, who is pastor of the Pentecostal Souls Harbor Holiness Church in Pinedale, has been preaching in the Free Speech Area for several years. His message typically includes: “Sodomy, it’s to DIE for” and signs promoting the idea that AIDS is the ideal combatant of homosexuality.

Munoz also condemns women, Muslims, Catholics, and anyone else he thinks is sinful.

While most people try to ignore him, others are angered by his message.

In the beginning of February, University police were called to keep Munoz and a crowd separated after several people tried to knock Munoz off the table he was preaching from.

Munoz was joined by a preacher linked to “God Hate Fags” Fred Phelps in early February. “Brother Matt”–Matt Bourgault–is a traveling Pentecostal street preacher who roams the nation’s college campuses from his home base in Kinard, Florida.

Bourgault admits he does what he does to create controversy and provoke disturbances.

During one of his appearances, at the University of New Mexico, in October 2005, he spat on a woman student because he believed she is a “sinner.”

The coalition are considering several options: to get Munoz and his cohorts off campus, or to give voice to other perspectives. Group members agreed that the crisis could become a positive thing, by raising awareness on campus and creating coalitions among the campus community.