Wootan has spoken at several rallies in Salem in recent years, including a 2nd Amendment rally sponsored by members of the Proud Boys and an anti-vaccine mandate rally. Snyder said she takes particular issue with the attendance of The River Church pastor Lew Wootan, adding it was not last week's prayer breakfast that made her finally decide to cancel, but it did reinforce it. The annual prayer breakfast, Clark said, has taken place annually for more than two decades and includes people of multiple religious backgrounds. There are only abusive parents and abusive adults. Pastor Mark Burns, with the Harvest Praise & Worship Center in South Carolina, said to a cheering crowd, "There is no such things as trans kids. Speakers included election and COVID-19 conspiracy theorists, Christian leaders and prominent figures pardoned by former President Donald Trump. The event Snyder referred to was the Reawaken America Tour, hosted by The River Church in Salem, which drew thousands to Keizer's Volcanoes Stadium in early April. Groups known for harmful and exclusionary religious practices were not only present, but have since been invited to the Mayor’s prayer breakfast." who echo the anti-queer rhetoric of last year’s intruders were welcomed into Keizer.
"Then, not months ago," Snyder said, "right-wing extremists, white supremacists, and bigoted groups.
"They were held back by the community congregating and forming a barrier," she said, "drowning out their screams of hate."įollowing the event, videos and photos, including images of Snyder with her children's faces cropped out, were shared online without participants' permission and used to target individuals who had been at the event.
Snyder said "bigoted, hateful individuals attempted to interrupt the event," then called the police on the Pride participants for not letting them in. While the event was considered a success by those who attended - including Keizer Mayor Cathy Clark, who said the organizers had done "a fantastic job" - it wasn't without disruption.
GAY PRIDE APPAREL 2018 SKIN
"I don't want my own kid to feel uncomfortable in their own skin in their own town." "I thought it was really important to show members of the queer community that they are welcome here, too," Snyder said at the time.