Despite Torrential Downpour, 300 Attend Portland’s Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally, 100 More View Live Online
Posted by Jason Schmidt (June 21, 2012 at 9:32 am)
A torrential downpour couldn’t keep 300 Oregonians and Southwest Washingtonians away from the Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally on June 8, 2012 in Terry Schrunk Plaza in Portland, Oregon. 100 more viewed the rally remotely on a Ustream channel. This was the second Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally in Oregon, with the first on March 23.
Amid umbrellas, raincoats, and waterproof boots, the rally began without a hitch and everyone was called to attention with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem.
Pastor Stephen Williams of Prepare the Way Ministries kicked things off and shouts from among the crowd of “Amen!” could be heard as he preached about our Biblical right to religious freedom. Jim Greenfield, of the Jim Greenfield Show, got the crowd going even more with his wit and Constitutional knowledge.
These were followed by Jeff Jimerson, the leader of Initiative #25 – the initiative to end public funding of abortion in Oregon; Lisa Michaels, former ORCD1 Congress Candidate; James Buchal, Complex Civil Litigation Specialist and Oregon Attorney General Candidate; Suzanne Gallagher, Owner of Wall Design Diva and State Senate District #18 Candidate; Pastor Aaron Auer, Restoring Oregon’s Amazing Roots; and Jason Schmidt, the organizer of the rally, patriot, and pro-life activist.
The keynote speaker, Jeff Kropf, radio show host of Common Sense Conservatism on KUIK 1360am and former State Representative for Oregon House District 17 spoke about the need for Catholics and Evangelicals and people of all faiths to band together to fight off this growing evil. He continued that this is not just a Catholic fight – this is a fight that will affect all people of America.
Said rally organizer, Jason Schmidt, “The rally went extremely well. Considering the Oregon sunshine, the turnout was very encouraging. Oregon is a big state – we’re spread out over hundreds of miles. 300 showed up, but I know there are thousands of Oregonians who were not able to show up and are in support of what we were out here doing today.”
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Images can be found on facebook.
UStream Video