West Seattle scene: Religious demonstration at 35th/Fauntleroy

Sometimes WSB commenters, usually referring to quality-of-life issues, wonder aloud if West Seattle is going to hell. It is, literally, said one of the demonstrators who took up positions this afternoon by the 35th SW entrance to/exit from the bridge. We passed by a little while ago and heard the man on the southwest corner using a megaphone to amplify a monologue about his opposition to abortion. Then we got a note from Krista, who sent the above photo and says the shouting was quite audible in nearby businesses, including a nearby martial-arts studio: “This obnoxious man plus 2 others are using the corner of 35th/Fauntleroy to shout anti-abortion and other prosthelytizing rants while my son and other children are trying to do martial arts class at SIMA. He’s been using a loudspeaker and it’s attracting quite a disgusted audience.” She says they called police, who said the amplification would be illegal (obviously otherwise, freedom of speech should apply) so they would send someone by to check it out. The people on other corners appeared to be quietly holding signs, including a woman on the northeast corner with one about choosing between Jesus and the devil. We didn’t see any mention of a particular church or denomination affiliation.

5:36 PM: As of about 10 minutes ago, Krista says, they’re gone.

datamuse August 14, 2012 (5:27 pm)

Seems like a strange place to do that.
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I used to live across the street from Aradia Women’s Health Center on First Hill. These guys, or their spiritual kin, woke up me and everyone else in a two-block radius one Saturday morning with a megaphone.
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I think somebody had a word with them because they only did that once, though.

WSB August 14, 2012 (5:32 pm)

As I just noted on twitter, it’s not unusual to see politicians there, but I don’t recall seeing proselytizers before. When passing through earlier, I heard the megaphone from the curb lane northeastbound on Avalon at 35th, a very long block away, though the only word I could make out till getting closer was “murder.”

Nick August 14, 2012 (5:36 pm)

As a normal Christian, I apologize on behalf of all the crazy “Christians” that make us look bad. I wish people like this would go away just as much as everyone else.

That is not the proper way to spread a message and actually probably has an opposite effect on their goal.

Karl August 14, 2012 (5:52 pm)

For your reference: Seattle Municipal Code: Noise Control: 25.08.425.C & 25.08.500.D

cruzer August 14, 2012 (5:57 pm)

Anybody know the reason for the 4 police cars response on the downhill side of Admiral Way just now?

WSB August 14, 2012 (6:12 pm)

Cruzer, I have been listening to the scanner for some time, including when two people tweeted about seeing several cars zooming that way. Unless this is being kept off the radio for some reason, not hearing anything.

Jim August 14, 2012 (5:59 pm)

I wouldn’t call them “crazy” just because they believe in something enough to go put themselves out there like this. Everybody is protesting something lately, I think people just don’t like this particular message.

timh2o August 14, 2012 (5:59 pm)

I was going by on the 54 bus at about 4:50 and the megaphone was so loud I jumped in my seat!

boy August 14, 2012 (7:07 pm)

This is just as bad as dealing with the anti war crowd at key bank in the middle of the junction all the time. But hey this is America. Do something like this in some other countries and your dead.

Ummm August 14, 2012 (7:22 pm)

“As a normal Christian, I apologize on behalf of all the crazy “Christians” that make us look bad.”

Ugh.

Bill August 14, 2012 (8:07 pm)

I saw the lady on the NE corner of 35th/Fauntleroy — I have no problem with that — peacefully and respectfully presenting her(?) views — then as my bus turned the corner onto 35th — — I saw there was a guy with a megaphone — immediate turnoff — and arising suspicions — my take is that these were astroturf lefties out to antagonize anti-christian (esp) (and/or in general) – anti-religious views — via the well known leftie “In Their Face” mantra

In other words a “False Flag” protest

Swiss miss August 14, 2012 (8:58 pm)

Thanks for the info, was wondering what I was hearing from my back yard. Must have been very loud and very distracting to drivers. I live by 38th and Oregon and could hear him

DBP August 14, 2012 (9:01 pm)

Oh yeah. People with “Jesus” on their signs and screaming about abortion. I’m sure leftists had something to do with that . . .
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Hahahaha! Get help, will ya?
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Just . . . get help.

DBP August 14, 2012 (9:04 pm)

Speaking of the war . . . does anyone know how that’s going? Are we winning yet?
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On the other hand, it’s only been 10 years. Maybe in another 10 . . .

Robert August 14, 2012 (9:30 pm)

Bill, it’s even more insidious than that, as you well know. Your post is in fact an example of the notorious double astroturf ploy. You’re a leftie posing as a rightie exposing the lefties posing as righties. Everyone got that straight? Diabolical.

evergreen August 14, 2012 (10:43 pm)

The Westboro Baptist Church crazies have been picketing in Seattle lately. Homosexuality, abortion, divorce, and non-fundamentalist Christian groups are their favorite topics. O r maybe it’s just some home-grown winner. *sigh* I moved away from the Bible Belt to escape people like this. I don’t understand a worldview that decides all but the chosen few (themselves) will suffer eternal damnation and fiery pain. This is some kind of mental illness.

WS Parent August 14, 2012 (11:34 pm)

I think that they can only do that if we can frequent outside their homes and workplaces and proselytize them as well.

I am down for sharing the word of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. They have a web page discussing pastafarianism. Anyone else?

NotMe August 15, 2012 (12:33 am)

I usually ignore this kind of thing. It’s healthier. Robert, DBP and Bill – none of you are the Authority, k? That is just about all I know in regards to religion: none of you have the answers or the ability to make any judgements.

knm August 15, 2012 (6:12 am)

Easier to ignore when you’re driving by or on your way somewhere else. I’m the parent who had to listen to it for an hour while my son and other kids attempted to focus during their martial arts class. I have no problem with the extremists who demonstrate peacefully. In fact, when I drove by and saw the woman with the “Abortion Is Murder” sign holding a plastic baby doll, I simply rolled my eyes. But the guy with the megaphone? He ignored my polite request to quiet down and then yelled directly at me as I walked away “We expose all that is dark in West Seattle”…. “Jesus is the savior and all who believe will be saved. All who do know will be damn”…..Ok, really? That kind of message only has the opposite effect with me. Those righteous folks fail to see the wrong in what they’re doing and are incapable of reason. What an annoying evening it was. I feel most bad for the kiddos who had to try to focus on martial arts while having that stuff screamed at them. Boo!

Smitty August 15, 2012 (7:11 am)

I just ignore them like I ignore the moonbats in the Junction protesting Eee-rock and Aff-gaaahn -e-staaaahn.

miss seattle August 15, 2012 (9:20 am)

Ignoring bad behavior does not make it go away.

datamuse August 15, 2012 (10:07 am)

At least the war protesters don’t use megaphones.

bolo August 15, 2012 (12:43 pm)

Yeah, those megaphones can be more dangerous in other ways! I remember seeing Mayor Paul Schell laying on the ground in the CD after getting hit up side the head with one. Cracked some bones in his temple.
Ugly episode.

w.s. maverick August 15, 2012 (4:04 pm)

as bad as scientology or mars hill

NotMe August 15, 2012 (5:44 pm)

Well, Miss Seattle… what do you suggest? Confrontation? Beating them within an inch of their lives? Yeah, you do that. I don’t care what they are doing – and their message isn’t going to get through. Oh, and before you know it, they go away. The only one that never goes away is that poor old soul in front of Nordstroms downtown with the signs about getting beaten by the police. I think he has been out there speaking nonsense for some 8 or more years.