Members of the evangelical Christian group Open Air Outreach
were physically attacked twice in as many days this week while
preaching their beliefs on campus.
The preachers specifically target college campuses, according to
the group’s Web site. On Monday and Tuesday, they were
carrying large signs in line with their religious beliefs that told
a variety of people, including hypocritical Christians, Muslims,
mouthy women and liberals, to “repent … or
perish”.
An incident on Tuesday ended with the arrest of one member of
the crowd, while the incident on Monday ended with physical
intervention on the part of Berky Nelson, director of the Center
for Student Programming.
Crowds gathered around the preachers Monday, with many students
responding angrily to the broad scope of actions and beliefs the
preachers told the crowd would send them to hell.
“They wanted to elicit a response … and they were
successful,” Nelson said.
One student who identified himself as gay became particularly
upset, attempted to pull down the sign, and started to push the
preacher, said Brian Holbrook, a fourth-year history student and
former Daily Bruin reporter.
Other students tried to pull the student off the preacher, he
said.
Nelson then pulled the student off and threw him to the
ground.
“I had to move him away so that he wouldn’t commit
assault,” Nelson said.
Those involved in the altercation had dispersed by the time
police arrived, according to university police media logs.
The preachers left campus Monday, only to return the next
day.
Evan Schaible, Miles Lewis and Eli Brayley were addressing
crowds in Bruin Plaza Tuesday when a member of the crowd,
identified by police as Michael Okerblom, began rushing around and
yelling at the preachers.
Police responded to the scene after receiving a report of a
subject exposing himself, said Sergeant Mark Littlestone. Okerblom
had taken off his pants.
“I command you in the name of the Lord to leave,”
one of the preachers said.
Okerblom then turned and punched Brayley and was consequently
restrained and led away by the police.
Okerblom was arrested for battery, transported to the station,
and released from custody, Littlestone said.
The events at UCLA were not the first time these preachers have
seen strong resistance to their ideas and presence.
According to the group’s Web site, they often get asked to
leave the areas where they preach, and have had numerous run-ins
with police.
Ryan Harris, a first-year political science student, responded
to their broad condemnation on Monday by making his own sign when
he first saw the preachers.
Harris stood next to the preachers holding a sign that said
“God loves everyone.”
With reports from Lisa Cates, Bruin senior staff.