Sacramento protests against Verity Baptist Church anti-gay beliefs
Kevin Knauss
Hundreds of people turned out in force to protest against the anti-gay beliefs of the Verity Baptist Church in Sacramento. Pastor Jimenez of Verity Baptist Church posted a recording of his sermon on Sunday, June 12, 2016, stating that Christians should not mourn over the deaths of 49 people killed in a mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, earlier that morning. He went on to preach that it was God’s intention that gays should be put to death. He also mentioned that the shooter didn’t finish the job by not killing all the people in the gay nightclub.
Verity Baptist Church protest of anti-gay beliefs
In response to such inflammatory and repugnant beliefs, John Hayden and Beverly Kearney began organizing a protest/rally at the Verity Baptist Church during the Sunday service on June 19th. People throughout Northern California came to the rally with home made signs of support for the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community. There were people from all walks of life and some that were in wheelchairs. There were mothers, grandmothers, children, and just a variety of people who understand that God never meant for us to kill anyone.
Hundreds of protesters await the the arrival of Verity Baptist Church members before the start of their Sunday service.
Also present was a large force of Sacramento Sheriff Deputies to keep the peace. They helped escort the parishioners into the church and then back to their cars after the service was done. The California Highway Patrol was stationed on the streets to keep traffic flowing. All the different law enforcement agencies did a wonderful job of respecting everyone’s right to peaceful protest and assembly. Below is a picture gallery of the variety of people and signs of support for gay rights and signs of protest against pastor Jimenez’s warped sense of Christian religion that he preaches at his church. Recordings of the events will be posted soon.
Picture Gallery of Verity Baptist Church protest
Love conquers hate sign at the Verity Baptist Church protest.
Mr. Jiminez, God prays for you, state protesters at the Verity Baptist Church in support of equal rights and love for all LGBTQI people.
Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is Love, reads a sign at the Verity Baptist Church protest.
Who would Jesus kill, a rhetorical question for the Verity Baptist Church.
Who needs Satan when you have Roger Jimenez, of the Verity Baptist Church who thinks it is OK to shoot gay people.
Who are you to judge? …pastor Jimenez of the Verity Baptist Church.
We are Orlando, mourning the young victims of a heinous mass shooting at the Pulse gay nightclub.
Outside of the Verity Baptist Church in an industrial office complex in Sacramento.
Verity, Vulgarity, Barbarity
Voting for Love at the Verity Baptist Church protest.
Colorful folks walking to the Verity Baptist Church protest in Sacramento.
We are Orlando, sign of support.
Verity Baptist Church members face the music of the protest against their pastor’s comments about God condoning the killing of gays.
Thou shalt not kill, sign, to remind the Verity Baptist Church members that God never condones killing another person.
This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have love you, sign and reminder to the congregants of the Verity Baptist Church.
Stop teaching Hate!
Standing on the side of love and equality sign, Verity Baptist Church protest.
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church members attended the Verity Baptist Church protest.
The Lifting Up Jesus Church, next door to the Verity Baptist Church, let protesters use their bathrooms. Thanks!
Protesters at the Verity Baptist Church get ready for the church member to walk out to their cars so they can show Sacramento Pride in action.
Sacramento Sheriff Deputies were out in force to keep the peace at the Verity Baptist Church protest. They did an excellent job and were very respectful of the participants and church members.
Scooter brings a rainbow flag to the Verity Baptist Church protest.
Someone in your family is gay, is this the what you really want? (tombstones and grave markers)
Sacramento City Councilman Steve Hansen passes out We Are Orlando poster with the names of the shooting victims.
One very vocal attendee was calling for people to sign a petition to revoke the tax exempt status of the Verity Baptist Church.
Respect Humanity and rainbow heart flag flow into the Verity Baptist Church protest.
Mourning the victims of the Orlando gay nightclub shooting, something pastor Jimenez of Verity Baptist says we shouldn’t do.
Rainbow Love never fails, 1 Cor. 13:8
Rainbow flag family walks to their car after the Verity Baptist Church protest in Sacramento.
This mom is proud of her daughter and her wife!
Anti-Gay Rights supporter holding “Hatred of Parents is the Cause of Homosexuality” sign, is surrounded by Pro-Gay Rights supporters at Verity Baptist Church protest.
Standing against prejudice at the Verity Baptist Church protest in Sacramento.
Pride over Prejudice. #GetLoud #WeStandTogether
Preach Love, something pastor Jimenez of the Verity Baptist Church has a hard time doing when he thinks God wants to kill all gay people.
Pray the hate away, sign, from an attendee at the Verity Baptist Church protest.
Some attendees of the Verity protest made their rainbow signs right in parking lot.
More signs of Love at the Verity Baptist Church protest.
Mothers against hate was the message of this mom at the Verity Baptist Church protest and equality rally.
My dog love more than your God, sign, in response to the sentiment from pastor Jimenez of Verity Baptist Church that the Orlando gay nightclub shooter didn’t kill enough gay people.
No one is born hating, sign, as this mother knows, hate is taught…sometimes by churches.
Religion is love, or it should be. Protesters at the Verity Baptist Church rally to support LGBT rights.
Love wins is the message of this attendee at the Verity Baptist Church protest in Sacramento.
Jesus said, “Love your neighbor”, sign at the Verity Baptist Church protest.
Love is stronger than hate.
Rainbow love signs were out in force at the Verity Baptist Church protest over the pastor’s comments that Christians need not mourn for the victims of the Orlando mass shooting incident at a gay nightclub.
Love conquers hate coupled with free hugs at the Verity Baptist Church protest. The church members didn’t want any hugs from the rally attendees.
Jesus cries rainbow tears for the victims of the Orlando shooting at a gay nightclub, protesting the repugnant statements made by Verity Baptist Church in Sacramento about the victims.
Jesus had 2 dads, and he turned out OK, is the message of this protester at the Verity Baptist Church LGBTQ rally in Sacramento.
Pastor Jimenez equals hate according to this sign at the Verity Baptist Church protest in Sacramento.
Verity Baptist Church protest organizers John Hayden and Beverly Kearney greet an attendee as the rally begins on a warm Sunday morning.
Protest organizer John Hayden talks with Donald Bentz Executive Director of the Sacramento LGBT Center during the protest of Verity Baptist Church.
Love beats hate sign at the Verity Baptist Church protest.
It’s not too late to stop the hate, protesting the hate of Verity Baptist Church towards LGBT people.
Ignorance breeds Extremism, in response to the ignorant comments made about gay people by the pastor at Verity Baptist Church.
I love my gay sister! Verity Baptist Church protest in Sacramento
I am a person…protester at the Verity Baptist Church rally to remind the church members we are all God’s people.
Hate is not Holy, along with flowers to memorialize the victims of the Orlando mass shooting that Verity Baptist Church pastor supported.
Hate is not a Christian value, sign in response to the ugly comments from the pastor of Verity Baptist Church.
Glitter Baptism Booth at the Verity Baptist Church protest in Sacramento.
God is love, not hate, sign at the Verity Baptist Church protest.
Rainbow love was brought by the attendees supporting equal rights at the Verity Baptist Church protest.
God teaches love and acceptance, you preach hatred and discrimination, sign at Verity Baptist Church protest.
Grandmas for gay rights at the Verity Baptist Church Sacramento protest.
Grieving Loud and Proud for the Orlando shooting victims at the Verity Church protest.
All walks and wheels of life attended the Sacramento rally against the inflammatory rhetoric against the LGBT community from the pastor of Verity Baptist Church in Sacramento.
Freedom of speech is not freedom to hate, protesting at Verity Baptist Church.
Would Pastor Jimenez want his child dead if they came out as gay?
As Jesus said about homosexuals, ” “
American flag graces the peaceful free speech rally against Verity Baptist Church in Sacramento.
All Love is Equal in Sacramento.
#LoveIsLove and the throng of Sacramento protesters at Verity Baptist Church.
#OrlandoStrong takes a break from the Pride Rally against Verity Baptist Church.
