Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL HomeStudent confrontation with anti-gay demonstrators leads to arrest at UH

Student confrontation with anti-gay demonstrators leads to arrest at UH

By Zahid Arab - bio | email

MANOA (KHNL) - Heated debate and tempers, as a San Francisco-based religious group's preaching pushes the buttons of a college student, leading to his arrest.

As many as 600 University of Hawaii at Manoa students gathered to take in the teachings of "Cry to God," a group that takes its message across the country.

From sporting events like the Super Bowl to college campuses, the group goes around with anti-homosexual messages with an " in your face" approach.

If you tell college students to fear god or burn in hell, you may have a problem on your hands.

It didn't sit well with a fumed UH student, who was arrested after taking a camera belonging to the church group "Cry to God Ministries" and smashing it on the ground. The group's six members made tempers flare.

"Don't come where you're not wanted," said student Phallon Debose.  "This is hurting people; they're not just saying things to make people uncomfortable."

"I understand this is confrontational but we're very specific about sin," said church member Kevin Farrer.

"The way they put down everybody and degrade everybody isn't what Jesus is," said student Thomas Pegues Jr.

"They're going to respond in the way they're responding, but the Bible says we don't fight against flesh and blood," said Farrer.

But the group's abrasive approach and strong stance against homosexuality doesn't sit well with students.

"For them to come out and say, 'Oh I love you all,' but not want to show love to anybody is hypocritical," said Pegues Jr.

"We're hoping that they would hear the truth, and the truth will set them free," said Farrer.

Now facing criminal property damage charges, the angry student stays true to his principles, even if it means getting arrested.

This is the group's last protest in Hawaii. While they have a strong stance against homosexuality, the group says their demonstration has nothing to do with the state's current consideration of a same-sex civil union bill.