Drag Queen Story Hour attracts threats of violence, large police presence — and allegedly rooftop snipers in camouflage
The Drag Queen Story Hour phenomenon hit a public library Saturday in Spokane, Washington — and the result was certainly dramatic.
What happened?
While drag queen Katie Rockswell read "A Family Is a Family Is a Family" to about 50 children and their families at the Spokane Public Library on the South Hill, the Spokesman-Review reported that about 400 gay rights activists were outside the library in support of the event while 200 protesters against the event held signs and even spoke through megaphones across the street.
The paper added that about 40 police officers were on hand watching the crowds, as cops were concerned based on social media chatter that people on both sides of the issue would show up armed — but no one arrived openly carrying guns.
Although police arrested one protester for repeatedly trying to enter the nondesignated protesting area, Sgt. Terry Preuniger of the Spokane Police Department told the Spokesman-Review.
That protester allegedly was Afhsin Yaghtin of New Covenant Baptist Church, Christian News reported, and a video shows the pastor asking officers why he's not allowed to stand where he wants.
"This is a public library," Yaghtin is heard saying. "The only event that they've reserved is a private room. The rest of the library is U.S. property. … I have the right to free speech wherever I want to speak."
Pastor Arrested, Jailed During Spokane 'Drag Queen Story Hour'youtu.be
The Christian News said the pastor was taken into custody and later released.
"May God use this for His glory and His glory alone," Yaghtin said of his arrest on social media, the News added. "God bless all my supporters and friends and those who inspire me to stand strong for the Lord Jesus by their godly example!"
Snipers?
There also were reports of alleged snipers dressed in camouflage on the library roof. A Spokane County 911 dispatcher supervisor said the individuals in question indeed were snipers "most likely" with the Spokane Police Department SWAT team as opposed to the county SWAT team, the Christian News reported.
The News said Anna Bohach, leader of a Facebook group called 500 Mom Strong, led the protest against the Drag Queen Story Hour and said snipers were present.
"The police presence was a little ridiculous," Bohach added to the outlet. "They had snipers on the roofs. They wouldn't allow us into the library."
The Christian News added that the Charles Carroll Society posted somephotos of men on the roof — two are seen holding binoculars.
Jesus and drag queens
As you might expect, those who made it inside the room where the Drag Queen Story Hour took place — many were turned away — were quite supportive of the cause.
"Drag queens are frickin' awesome," Pamela Moye — who specifically brought her two children to the event for the drag-queen element — told the Spokesman-Review. "Their makeup is better than mine. I go to drag shows all the time, but I can't bring my kids."
When Moye told her children that protesters against the Drag Queen Story Hour don't believe people should love the same sex, the paper said one of her kids replied, "That's not right."
Shannon Daily — a 13-year-old girl who identifies as gay — arrived at the story hour with her parents and her brother Sean, who's just 6 years old and wore a dress to the event after learning about those who oppose it, the Spokesman-Review said.
"He has love for everybody," Justine Daily, Sean and Shannon's mom, told the paper.
Daily's husband Goff Daily added to the Spokesman-Review that the protesters against the Drag Queen Story Hour are afraid of something they don't understand — and told his children that if Jesus were "around today," he would support the drag queens.
Tina Humphries likely didn't see it that way, telling the paper as she stood with protesters against the story hours that she's tired of leftist ideas "being shoved down our throats all the time. I'm tired of public facilities being used to further the agenda of the far left."
Humphries has four children, and she told the Spokesman-Review, "If you're a boy, you don't wear a dress."
