“Does Title IX trump free speech?” Joshua, a Free Speech Plaza preacher, asked in a YouTube video of a confrontation with LSUPD officers published almost a month ago.
Officers accused Joshua of making “racially motivated” and female-oppressive statements, explaining that people are allowed to exercise free speech until they violate Title IX, a federal law prohibiting sex discrimination against students and employees in education programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.
In the video, Joshua defends his remarks, pointing out that he made those statements to address the disproportionate rate of abortions in the African-American community for “fornicators” on campus, referencing the Black Lives Matter movement as justification.
Officers asked him to leave the area, but an LSUPD statement later showed the officers incorrectly cited Title IX and have since been through a review of its role in law enforcement situations.
Two groups often take up residence in Free Speech Plaza: Brother Jed’s The Campus Ministry USA, which Joshua belongs to, and a religious organization called Consuming Fire Fellowship. Both have been present in the area even longer than Ivan Imes, the “Jesus Talks” guy, who has made himself available in the Plaza almost every day for the past 10 years.
Imes said at the end of the fall 2015 semester, he saw one of the Consuming Fire Fellowship members grab a woman during a confrontation. He said the fellowship member was subsequently arrested.
He recalled another incident that took place a few years ago in which a heated argument between a lesbian and a Consuming Fire Fellowship member ended with the woman being chased on foot around campus. Imes said she went to the police, and he believes the fellowship member was arrested in that instance as well.
LSUPD spokesperson Marshall Walters said he was unable to find official police reports or evidence of an arrest for either of these events, but acknowledged LSUPD does occasionally get called to handle aggressive preachers in Free Speech Plaza. As far as he knows, he said such incidents have never escalated beyond heated arguments, and he does not remember arresting anyone for physical violence.
However, he said there is a fine line between free speech and disturbing the peace. In his 15 years working at the University, Walters said the aggression has not gotten worse, but cycles in and out with different visiting groups. No specific group gives LSUPD problems, he said.
Imes said he believes the contention with groups that come to Free Speech Plaza has been relatively the same throughout his decade there, but every semester has a different theme. He said last semester’s was “relationships” and this semester’s so far has been sexual issues, such as pornography and promiscuity.
International studies and political science sophomore Chloe Riviere tabled for her rowing team at Free Speech Plaza one day, sharing the space in front of the Student Union with some preachers. She referred to that day as “Go to Hell Wednesday.”
Riviere said she tries to ignore many of the preachers because they have been aggressive toward her friend, calling her a slut for her clothing.
“It can be a little offensive,” she said. “I feel like it’s rude, more than anything.”
Biology junior Jess Coulon said she was at Free Speech Plaza when a woman called her a “harlot” because of what she was wearing. Coulon, who was wearing shorts under her dress at the time, said she lifted her skirt in response.
She said she also witnessed a woman harassing an openly gay man, calling him a “rapist.”
“Does it really feel good to you to make people feel bad about who they are?” Coulon said. “Does that make your relationship to God closer?”
However, the aggression is rare, she said.
Free Speech Plaza is great because everyone can speak their minds, she said, but being cruel to other people is unacceptable.
“They’re taking Free Speech Alley and making it into a place for hate,” Coulon said of the aggressors.
Accounting sophomore Ross Brown and mass communication sophomore Michael Etheridge often play guitar and sing worship songs in a large group at Free Speech Plaza on Wednesdays.
Brown said he thinks the events in Free Speech Plaza give people a skewed view of Christianity because the messages from some preachers are hateful rather than loving. Brown said his group also feels victimized by Consuming Fire Fellowship.
Last semester, Etheridge said they were “persecuted” by preachers, prompting students to show the worship group respect despite differing religious views.
Consuming Fire Fellowship member Charlie Kennon, who wears a “Jesus Must Be Your Lord or He Will Not Be Your Savior” sign on his body at Free Speech Plaza, said he expects the opposition from students because the Bible warned the fellowship’s members about it.
The church’s name, he said, comes from Hebrews 12: “Our God is a consuming fire.” He said those who antagonize God face negative consequences, but those who submit see positive results.
Micah Williams, another preacher with the fellowship, said he has been coming to Free Speech Plaza with his father, who began preaching on campus 27 years ago, since he was three weeks old.
“You will suffer eternal damnation,” Williams called to passersby as he paced on top of a bench with a worn Bible in his hand. His voice echoed across the otherwise-peaceful Plaza.
He said the church usually comes to campus once a month during the semester.
“We don’t affiliate with them,” Williams said about other preachers at Free Speech Plaza. “They do a lot of things we don’t agree with.”
While his church is not necessarily looking for converts, Williams said he feels he is making a difference.
He said he has a good relationship with LSUPD, and while they do run into opposition from students, there is never violence.
“Maybe a heated argument, they would call it,” he said. “But no extreme violence or anything, normally, out here.”