This past weekend a controversial evangelist made an appearance in Asheville, but as expected, there were plenty of demonstrators there to greet him.
Franklin Graham’s Decision America Tar Heel State tour drew thousands to the U.S. Cellular Center on Sunday, but it also drew a number of protestors who don’t agree with how Graham – son of the late Rev. Billy Graham – mixes his politics with his preaching. One was Shelby native Morris Davis.
“I believe in separation of church and state, but if the church wants to get involved in telling people how to vote – as you’ve seen recently, Ralph Reed and others have told people that it’s an obligation to vote for Trump and support Trump – the only president I know that has checked off all 10 commandments by violating them, yet the Christian right says he’s the chosen one,” Davis said.
Colonel Morris Davis also happens to be a retired Air Force lawyer, who was the chief prosecutor at Guantanamo Bay until he resigned in 2007 because he opposed waterboarding. He was holding a sign declaring Graham a “false prophet,” spelled “P-R-O-F-I-T.”
Holding a sign nearby was another man, who gave his name only as “Joe.” His sign read “Franklin Graham your mother and father would be ashamed of you. You are a hypocrite.”
But Graham has come under fire for commenting on what he calls “moral issues” that are public policy matters, and has been especially critical of the rights of the LGBTQ and transgender community. A group of more than 40 showed up with signs and banners, arguing with attendees and police.
“We love you, closeted queer trans people! The grass is greener! I bet you got D’s in pig school didn’t you? I bet that really brought down your ego. They still pass though. It’s an IQ thing, if it’s low enough, you still get in.”
Although they started on a corner adjacent to the venue, the protestors soon moved close to the main entrance, lining up to face the crowd. Once they did, they unfurled a large banner. It read, “No hate in these hills and hollers.”
