Church Leaders Laugh, Refuse to Speak as Protesters Condemn LGBTQ+ Death Rhetoric

  INDIANAPOLIS - Today marked the first protest against the Sure Foundation Baptist Church, whose local leader, Justin Zhong, defended Stephen Falco's calls for the LGBTQ+ community to kill themselves.

    When VBN arrived on the scene around 10:15 a..m,, people were parking in the lot of the building next door from the church, in the green area on the map below.

    People were then told to move their cars up against the fence, not in the center of the lot. 

    Shortly later, people were told to move their cars to the abandoned pharmacy on 30th Street, to the right of the U-Haul center, or risk being towed. 

    According to a Facebook post from event organizer Cass Jackson, the church "had the land owner come in [a]nd tell us we could not [park]. Plenty [o]f other parking to find. They just really went hard for that lot."

    Jackson also said that "[o]ne of the pastors was also [arguing] with police saying that we could not stand on their side of the street on the sidewalk."

    Despite cars moving to the abandoned pharmacy, the protest remained situated on the sidewalk in front of the church, as a private security agent stood outside the door, which had a "No Photography" sticker on the left side and is not transparent, letting churchgoers in whilst another person recorded protesters on their phone.

    Charlie Jaimeson posted to Facebook that she came to the church "to worship God and was denied entry and threatened with criminal trespass by church security." 

    Jaimeson says the church took photos of her and her license plate.  

    According to WISH-TV, Jaimeson said "she was not there for the protests, but 'would have joined (the protests)' should she be turned away from worship."

    VBN spoke with an IMPD officer on the scene, who said hate speech is legal in the State of Indiana, and no legal action can be taken against the church. 

    As protesters chanted and cars driving by honked in support, someone at the church sat off their car alarm in attempt to drown out the protesters. The protesters continued to speak, chanting to the rhythm of the car alarm. 

    A bit after 12:30 p.m., Justin Zhong, a handful of church leaders, and a child stepped outside the door of the church, as churchgoers left a few at a time.

    A pastor of over 30 years asked to speak with Zhong, who declined to talk. 

    VBN asked Zhong for comment, reminding him of emails and phone calls. Zhong responded to VBN with laughter, before stepping back inside the church. 

    Moments before VBN attempted to address Zhong, he and church leaders were recorded by Jade DeMelody of the Indianapolis Star mocking and laughing at protesters.

    The protest ended peacefully with no arrests made. 

    The next protest scheduled by Jackson is Sunday, July 20, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

    Indiana Pride of Color announced via Facebook that they are "devastated," "outraged," and "mobilizing." The group will also protest on the 20th, but starting at 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.