Repent Amarillo
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Repent Amarillo was a small Amarillo, Texas-based group which advocated for the spiritual mapping and targeting of specific local areas and venues in order to exorcise demons from those areas. Because of the group's alleged tactics and targeting of perceivably-vulnerable minorities, the group has gained infamy from many critics who label the organization as a "hate group" or a "Christian" analogy for the Lebanese militant group[1] Hezbollah (lit. "Army of God"). They have also been likened to a cult, and compared widely with Westboro Baptist Church.
The group was led by former Department of Energy security guard[2] and self-designated "pastor" David Grisham.
Activities
Among the number of notable actions and campaigns taken by the group include protests against supposed swingers,[3] LGBT people, abortion clinics, Muslims, Buddhists, Wiccans, Episcopalians, Methodists, Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholics, and a myriad of other groups which are non Christian..[4]
Boycott against Houston, Texas
In January 2010, the group launched a boycott campaign against the city of Houston, Texas due to the election of Annise Parker (an open lesbian) as mayor and the construction of an abortion clinic in the city.[5] The website has since been redirected to the main Repent Amarillo website.
Theological controversy
Within Christian circles, the group has become a source of debate for apologeticists, many of whom disagree or reject the doctrine of spiritual mapping and territorial spirits, among other doctrinal issues[6]
Amarillo Citizens against Repent Amarillo
Amarillo Citizens against Repent Amarillo also known by the acronym ACARA is the counter-movement to Repent Amarillo. They are protesters made up of Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and atheists who gathered at Sam Houston Park in order to challenge the plan of David Grisham of activist group Repent Amarillo, to burn the Quran on a grill (the book had been doused with kerosene). While Grisham was arguing with a group of women that placed their hands on the grill asking if he'd burn them too, it was when Grisham lit his lighter anyway that a 23-year-old skateboarding member named Jacob Isom snuck up from behind him, grabbed the Quran from Grisham's hands, and ran off after saying, "Dude, you have no Quran[7]"; afterwards, Isom handed the book to a religious leader from the Islamic Center of Amarillo. Isom was presented with a "Medal of Reasonableness" at the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear for his action. He immediately threw the medal into the crowd.[8]
Of notable mention is the wide range of classes ACARA has within its ranks. Two well known members ran for Mayor of Amarillo, contesting David Grisham every step of the way. Cory "Grady" Traves is the head of ACARA's Peace Keepers [9] detail, responsible for keeping the peace at the David Grisham for Mayor Rally.
War on Christmas
In December 2016, David Grisham accosted a group of children and their parents who were waiting to see Santa Claus at Westgate Mall.[10] A recording he made of the incident shows him being confronted by several parents. Grisham also posted a video showing a mock execution of Santa Claus by shooting.
References
- ^ Charles Johnson (Mar 3, 2010). "The Texas Taliban". Little Green Footballs.
- ^ Adam Bennett (6 May 2011). "David Grisham Fired From Pantex". Myhighplains.com. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|dead-url=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ FORREST WILDER (February 24, 2010). "He Who Casts the First Stone". Texas Observer.
- ^ Eva Parker (29 January 2009). "Hitler ideals alive in "Repent Amarillo"". The Prairie News. Archived from the original on 12 October 2011.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Craig Masilow (Jan 19, 2010). "Boycott Houston, Because We Are So Depraved". Houston Press.
- ^ Rachel Tabachnick (Mar 6, 2010). "Repent Amarillo's Spiritual Mapping and Vigilantism". Talk to Action. Archived from the original on 2011-08-15.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Berzanskis, Cheryl. "'Dude, you have no Quran' | Amarillo Globe-News". Amarillo.com. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
- ^ Lisa de Moraes. "How it unfolded: 'Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear'". The Washington Post.
- ^ http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2011-05-03/rally-draws-friend-foe
- ^ reporter, Nina Golgowski Trends; Post, The Huffington (2016-12-11). "Pastor Tells Kids Mall Santa Isn't Real, Gets Confronted By Angry Dads". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2016-12-12.
External links