Bomb Threat Fails to Derail First-Ever Equality Event in Tupelo, Mississippi

[Ian David]

Media Advisory: For Immediate Release -- October 10, 2011

Bomb Threat Fails to Derail First-Ever Equality Event in Tupelo

Tupelo, MS – First the venue hosting a screening of “Out In The Silence” as part of a first-of-its-kind pro-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality event in Tupelo, Mississippi, was pressured by local "family values" advocates to cancel the event, then it received an anonymous bomb threat as things were getting underway.

The intimidation and threat occurred at the Link Centre on Main Street as organizers and allies were gathering outside the building to welcome attendees and offer a public display of support for efforts to raise LGBT visibility and build the local movement for inclusion, justice and equality for all.

Tupelo holds special significance as the setting for these events as headquarters for the American Family Association (AFA), a national organization designated as a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) for the “thoroughly discredited falsehoods and demonizing propaganda it pumps out about homosexuality and other sexual minorities.”

The bomb threat followed a press conference at which the SPLC unveiled an explosive new Special Report titled “THE PROPAGANDISTS: Bryan Fischer, the American Family Association & the Demonization of LGBT People.” http://www.boiseweekly.com/CityDesk/archives/2011/10/09/splc-to-unveil-report-by-idaho-journalists-on-fischer-afa

The threat was investigated by the Tupelo Police Department who swept the building and cleared it for use. The film screening took place as scheduled followed by a powerful community dialogue where a diverse audience pledged to join together, speak out against homophobia and transphobia and build the movement for change in Tupelo and beyond.

Co-sponsors of the event included: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Tupelo -- Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Oxford -- PFLAG Oxford/North Mississippi -- Gulf Region PFLAG -- University of Mississippi Gay-Straight Alliance -- OUTlaw at The University of Mississippi -- Mississippi Workers' Center for Human Rights – ACLU of Mississippi – Unitarian Universalist Mid South District -- Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations "Standing on the Side of Love" Campaign – Believe Out Loud – Americans United for Separation of Church and State -- Tennessee Equality Project -- Georgia Equality -- Equality Federation -- GetEQUAL.



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More:
http://outinthesilence.blogspot.com/2011/10/bomb-threat-fails-to-derail-first-ever.html


See also:

More TeaTerror
http:tinyurl.com/TeaTerror
http:tinyurl.com/TeaTerror2

The Outsiders (The Rise of 'Isolated Incidents' of Right-Wing Violence)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x606317

"To the Victims of This Tragedy We Send Our Thoughts and Prayers" by Roy Zimmerman
RoyZimmerman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8ouBFh04DU

[yardwork]

1. Hometown of the AFA hate organization.

[Hardrada]

2. Elvis was from there!