Group Kicked Out Of Franklin Pride Festival For Praying

Image Credit: Public Domain

The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –

On Saturday, a group of people were escorted away from Harlinsdale Park by police after Franklin Pride festival organizers stated that they just needed to make sure that folks there for the event were “comfortable.”

One might wonder what exactly this group of people was doing to warrant a police escort.

Well, they were praying. 

“I pray especially for those churches over there, that you would rebuke those pastors,” said one of the men in prayer, Brian Russell.

The prayer group was in opposition of the event, but seemed to keep their distance from the main crowds as they prayed for those present at the festival. 

At least from the video footage, it remains quite clear that this group was not actually disrupting anything going on around them. 

Regardless, they were swiftly confronted by police officers alongside one of the event organizers. 

“[If you’re] not here in support of pride, we are asking you to leave. You may feel free to exercise your First Amendment rights, but that area is across the street,” the organizer informed the group.

When Russell asked, “Who’s not in support of pride?” the organizer fumbled for an adequate response saying that event organizers heard conversation and had been watching the group.

Police officers then escorted the prayer group out of the public park. 

A second member of the prayer group, Jeremy Slayden, looked back on it all saying, “It wasn’t until he [Russell] stopped to pray. And it was seen as a prayer that, you know, our camera caught it. There’s eight cops walking up to say, ‘You guys gotta go, the people feel unsafe, very interesting, unsafe after prayer that nobody could hear.”

“Well, no one was asked to leave for praying.” Franklin Pride President Clayton Klutts told reporters in his response.

According to Attorney Ben Raybin, the police didn’t necessarily have the right to exclude members of the public from being in a public park. Even if the Pride festival had a permit to be in the park.

“As long as you’re not being disruptive, then generally you’re allowed to be at a public event like this.” He said, “the police, from what I’ve seen in the videos, should not have told people to leave simply for being there praying.”

Raybin further clarified that if the prayer group had used a bullhorn, yelled, threatened anyone, etc. then that would have actually been disruptive. 

In light of everything, the attorney also seems to believe that the group would have a strong first amendment claim should they decide to sue the city. 

About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.