Protest breaks out in SSC quad

Ramiro Gonzalez, 21, leads chant in response to Paul Mitchell’s views.
Photo by Adam Kolvites

A group of students, teachers, Saddleback faculty and police gathered during a protest in response to a Christian man who was preaching his faith in the Saddleback College Student Services Center quad on March 18.

“Paul Mitchell,” an alias for the man speaking against homosexuals and abortion, stood in the quad holding a sign labeled: “Warning: Abortion is a God damned sin!” on one side and “Warning: Homosex is a God damned sin!” on the other. Both “warnings” were followed by Bible verses.

“Why did I come here today?” Mitchell, 72, said. “To make some points. To actually do what Jesus Christ said to do. That what you hear in the ear…you preach from the rooftops. To communicate to people who learn many things in error.”

In response to what Mitchell was preaching, students were chanting, “Everywhere we go, people want to know, who we are, so we tell them, ‘we are the queer youth! The mighty, mighty queer youth, fighting for justice and liberation.’ Everywhere we go, people want to know, who we are, so we tell them, ‘we are the youth, united for justice, standing up for each other, fighting against guys like him. Please go home, please go home, please go home,'” led by, Saddleback student Ramiro Gonzalez, 21-year-old communications major.

One student attempted to remove Mitchell’s sign, but was apprehended by campus police. No arrests were made, and those watching argued for both parties freedom of speech.

Paul Parrett, 22-year-old anthropology major, having practiced Paganism for seven years brought another point of view to the argument. Parrett said, “According to my beliefs, I’m not going to stand for that… I’m gonna try and send you off on your way, because should have freedom to be whatever you want to be here, not be destroyed because of it.”

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