Date: Thu, 27 Oct 1994 15:27:34 -0600
From: CENDO RICHARD <cendo@spot.Colorado.EDU>
Subject: CO "Family Values" leader hits woman


[From Ground Zero News, Colorado Springs, 10/26/94]
[reprinted with permission]

Police Report filed
KEVIN TEBEDO HITS RITA AGUE, MINORITY COALITION BOARD MEMBER

    According to Rita Argue, local activist and member of
the Board of the Colorado Springs Minority Coalition,
Kevin Tebedo, Director of Colorado For Family Values,
struck her after the two had appeared on the NOON JENNINGS
AND JENNINGS SHOW ON KKTV to discuss whether a Human
Relations Commission is needed.  The show aired live on
Tuesday, October, October 25th.
    Argue reports that the incident occurred behind the
set at the TV station while she, Tebedo and Jim Smith,
Sr., Black Coalition member, were holding a conversation.
Interestingly, Smith had just made an eloquent and
impassioned plea for the need for a Human Relations
Commission on the show, citing all of the violence in
Colorado Springs.
    Tebedo made reference to an appearance he had made on
a talk show, Ague recalls.  Twice Tebedo mentioned a women
saying to him that he was a white male Christian
heterosexual.  Tebedo claimed that this was
discrimination.
    Mystified, continues Ague, she asked Tebedo how this
was discrimination.  First, she said, you are obviously a
white male -- to which Tebedo replied yes; you claim to be
Christian, right?  Which evoked a strong YES.
    Further perplexed, Argue then stated the obvious,
asking Tebedo, "You're not telling us you aren't
heterosexual are you Kevin?"
    Angered, says Ague, Tebedo struck her in the arm with
a clenched fist with force, stating angrily, "YOU AND I
ARE GOING TO FIGHT," not once but rather twice.  The blow
pushed Ague back and she reports that it caused her severe
pain in an arm for which she is already receiving medical
treatment.
    "I was stunned," said Ague. "Stunned and shocked that
Tebedo would hit me.  I went back on the set where Sylvia
and Wayne were standing and mentioned the incident to
them.  As much as Tebedo striking me hurt me, I was
frightened by the tone of his voice when he said he and I
were going to fight. Quite frankly, I am concerned for my
safety and the safety of my family.  He didn't seem like a
well man to me."
    "It was fear of future problems and for my family that
most concerned me.  After talking with several friends and
the police department, I determined that it would be best
to file charges of harassment.  Perhaps, if there were an
effective Human Relations Commission, I would have gone to
them."
    "You know," Ague concluded, "I am just shocked that he
would hit a woman -- any woman -- like that.  If he would
do that, there is no telling what he is capable of."