Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

University Police Department Officer Eric Wong intervenes as a San Jose State University student, who declined to give his name, argues with Kevin Farrer, a religious activist. Farrer and another individual were ill received by a crowd that gathered in fr [Click to enlarge]

It started around 11 a.m. Tuesday when two men walked into the area between the Market Cafe and the Student Union carrying signs, telling the students and onlookers to repent for their sins. One of the signs read "Forgiveness Is Wonderful" and another said, "Warning: religious phonies, adulterers, child killers, fornicators, dope fiends, liars, thieves, cheats - Judgment Day is Coming Soon!"

"Jesus Christ is the truth, and I know I'm talking to a Muslim when I say it," said the 63-year-old preacher who wouldn't give his name. The younger preacher accompanying him, Kevin Farrer, carried a "Forgiveness Is Wonderful" sign and soon became surrounded by angry students, offended both by his message and the delivery of his message.

Tension ran high and, according to unnamed sources, the preachers began to insult the Prophet Mohammed, calling him a child molester, as well as denouncing non-Christian religions as "false religions."

The conflict reached its climax when a Muslim student jumped on top of a table and began to counter the preachers with his own message of peace and unity.

"Are you with me?" asked the student, evoking a resounding "yeah" from the crowd.

The student, who wished to remain anonymous, said he felt hatred and intolerance of other faiths which were things that shouldn't be preached nor promoted.

"They pick on students, especially Muslims. People are just sitting here and eating when they come to disturb the peace," said the student arguing with the preachers. "If anything, we should be bring unity among all religions."

The older preacher disagreed. A retired firefighter, he is married with four children and said he became a born-again Christian when he was 25-years-old. He started preaching 25 years ago, at a time he defined as having "more room for discussion." The preacher said 90 percent of the people he preaches to on the streets are opposed to his message, but that doesn't discourage him from spreading Christianity to the "miscellaneous heathens" he feels need salvation.

"Sin has become a part of the fabric of our culture," said the anonymous preacher, who believes in a strict, literal interpretation of the Bible and that all other religions are deficient. Because Jesus Christ was the only prophet to rise from the dead, the preacher believes that gives him the most merit.

Farrer, who was unavailable for comment, was almost hit in the head with a half-full cup of soda hurled in his direction. It was at this point that a couple of police officers arrived, which caused the vast majority of the crowd to disperse.

"It offended enough people, which is what they were hoping for," said Sgt. John Laws, who responded to the scene. "They became nervous for their safety and decided to leave."

Laws said it was a moderate conflict because it caused a disturbance but few, if any, injuries. He said a lot of the students asked the officers to make the preachers leave, but he denied their requests because of the free speech clause of the First Amendment.

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