From disc@casti.com Wed Feb 15 06:30:07 1995 Return-Path: Received: from femapub1.fema.gov by casti.com (8.6.9/NX3.0M) id GAA23298; Wed, 15 Feb 1995 06:30:06 -0500 Received: by femapub1.fema.gov; id AA27079; Wed, 15 Feb 1995 06:24:16 -0500 Received: by casti.com (8.6.9/NX3.0M) id GAA23186; Wed, 15 Feb 1995 06:24:34 -0500 Date: Wed, 15 Feb 1995 06:24:31 -0500 (EST) From: David Casti To: Virginia News Exploder Subject: Rev. Mel White & Pat Robertson Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Hi folks, Below are two press releases on the situation in Virginia Beach. Please circulate them widely: fax them to your local paper, your local radio call-in show, and your local religious leaders. Pat Robertson has built himself a media empire on the blood of gays and lesbians. Perhaps we can turn up the spotlight for him a little. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- David Casti Pager: (800) 980-6227 Information Scientist http://www.casti.com/casti/David.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Submitted by: Garland Tillery Many of you are already aware that the battle to expose the lies of Pat Robertson and the Christian Broadcasting Network began today at the headquarters of CBN in Virginia Beach, VA. Below is a copy of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches Press Release on Monday's events. As you are reading this, please ask yourself if ending the lies, hatred and bigotry of this man and ending the anti- gay influence he has on millions of Americans every day is worth your time (if you're in Hampton Roads, VA) or your dollars. This effort will take a heavy toll on the small group organizing it unless it finds the personnel and the money from gay people across the country to assist us. It's not just a local Virginia issue. It affects you wherever you live in the US. To give your time, contact Kathleen Vickery at 804 459-5162 (work) or 804 627-6487 (home). To give your money, send it to New Life Metropolitan Community Church, P.O. Box 1026, Norfolk, VA 23501. Please make checks payable to NLMCC Fast Fund. Donations in any amount---even $1--are better than nothing. Faxes, phone calls, etc. cost money and they must be made. Remember, this fight is for all of us. -----UFMCC NEWS ALERT----- Dr. Mel White and a group of religious leaders met this morning, Tuesday, February 14, at 11:00 am to attempt to deliver a Valentine's letter requesting a meeting to Pat Robertson. The group was escorted by Lt. Boswell (ed. note: the late John Boswell's brother) of the Virginia Beach Fourth Precinct. At 12:00 noon, the religious leaders entered the grounds of the Christian Broadcasting Network and White, with twelve additional people, entered the CBN Studio Headquarters Building. The additional people were asked to leave the building, which they did without incident, leaving White in the building. CBN told police that they did not want any further police involvement with this and said that they would not have White arrested. At that time the only people CBN were not letting onto the grounds or near the building were the media. Since the departure of the police and the people accompanying White, CBN security has not allowed anyone else into the building and will not allow anyone in to see White. Dr. White managed to get one phone call out on a pay phone and receive one phone call. In the phone call that White got out he said, "CBN has chosen to ignore me and I will not be arrested. My fast has begun." In the other phone call, White stated, "They are not allowing people to talk to me." This is White's first full day of a fast that he plans on keeping until Pat Robertson meets with him. White stated, "I am determined to stay at CBN as long as it takes." Lt. Boswell stated that CBN had two choices when they close the building at 5:00 pm. They can either allow White to stay in the building and lock him in, or they can physically carry him out of the building and lock the door behind him. For further information, you may call 804 855-8450, 804 543-2460 or 804 393-9737. -end- (ed. note: White was physically removed from the CBN headquarters around 5:30pm. He has stated that he will return tomorrow and every day thereafter until he is either arrested or meets with Pat Robertson. CBN officials said that if he returns, they will consider him trespassing. ------------- Ann Carlson a.b.carlson@larc.nasa.gov ======================================== I just got back from Regent Univ. where Mel White was arrested for trying to make an appointment to meet with Pat Robertson. I was one of 12 or 13 area religious leaders who went with Mel (and the media) onto the campus and into the main administrative building. We were met at the entrance to the grounds of the campus by Gene Capp -- the Robertson spokesperson, who told us that Pat was out of town but was not interested in meeting with us, ever. They said we were allowed to go wherever the public was usually allowed to go on campus, so we went to the admin building where there is also a bookstore -- Mel even bought a copy of the book he wrote for Pat (America's Dates With Destiny). The receptionist told us that Pat's receptionist was at lunch, so we decided to wait until she returned to try to make an appointment with Pat. But they told us we could not. Mel asked the rest of us to leave and he stayed and got arrested for trying to see Pat. What happens from here will depend on whether they make him to remain in prison or whether he is released.