While Gov. Bobby Jindal’s prayer rally at the PMAC began preparation Saturday demonstrators attending counter protest event “Organize, Reflect, Act: A Day of Justice in Louisiana” assembled outside of The Memorial Bell Tower.
Protesters gathered in opposition to “The Response” due to a history of controversial comments made by the American Family Association (AFA) who sponsored the rally. Director of research and policy at Louisiana Progress Carrie Wooten stated she and several other protesters do not condone the AFA using the University’s campus to delivery their message.
“We will not tolerate a hate group being on our campus. We’re not going to be quiet about that. They have the right to be here but they don’t have the right to go unchallenged about their opinions and perspectives on people in Louisiana,” Wooten said.
The American Family Association was deemed a hate group in 2010 by the Southern Poverty Law Center because of their statements condemning the LGBT community, Muslims and several minority groups. Planner of “Organize, Reflect, Act” and public administration graduate student Peter Jenkins stated he was inspired to plan this event after learning about the AFA’s past.
“I found out the AFA was hosting this event on campus and I know about their history and commentary on what are considered minority communities,” Jenkins said.
“Organize, Reflect, Act” is more than just a protest for organizers but also their first step in declaring their definition of justice in Louisiana. Student Monique LeBlanc said justice in the state is about being free from judgment.
“Justice in Louisiana means equality for all of us” said LeBlanc who added “Not being persecuted for who we are.”
Student Khizir Qureshi said he and citizens of Louisiana should not have to be afraid of scrutiny.
“Justice in Louisiana to me means being able to do what I want without fear of being judged against,” said Qureshi.
Voices of all sides were present to state their opinion of the rally and the protest. Rally attendant Tom Brewer stated protesters’ opposition towards the rally and the AFA contradicts their overall message against hate.
“What bothers me the most about them is their hypocrisy, their intolerance and their hatred? They hate the AFA, some even say they hate me, they hate god, yet they say they are against hate. They say they’re against intolerance but they will not tolerate the AFA being here,” Brewer said.