Day of Silence evokes opposition, death threats (OneNewsNow.com)

Day of Silence evokes opposition, death threats

Pete Chagnon - OneNewsNow - 4/20/2009 7:00:00 AM

Not all schools remained silent on Friday during the "Day of Silence" protest -- and certainly neither did homosexual activists who left death threats in the voice mailbox of a pro-family group in California.

The Day of Silence is an annual observance when students refuse to speak while at school in order to show their support of the homosexual community and to bring awareness to perceived homosexual bullying and name-calling. The observance is sponsored and coordinated through the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN).

college students talking Last Friday (April 17), during this year's event, the student council of American River College in Sacramento, California, voted 11-5 to pass a resolution that put the college on record as opposing the Day of Silence. George Popko, a representative on the student council, explains the rationale behind the resolution.

"The resolution basically stated that part of our duties were to, as a student government, ...promote student activities in the best interest of the students which stimulate the intellectual, physical, and social life of our college," says Popko. "And we thought that the Day of Silence was not such an activity because it's been used in the past in the Sacramento area, and I assume nationwide, to silence opposing viewpoints...at some of the local high schools."

Popko says while there was standing room only during the debate, in the end a majority vote in favor of the resolution was cast. "The author of the resolution is also from the former Soviet Union where...they used similar propaganda to intimidate religious groups and things like that," he adds.

American River College is one of the largest community colleges in California. The college also passed a resolution in support of Proposition 8 last year. That measure defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

Death threats
Meanwhile, a pro-family advocate near American River College reports she received death threats from homosexual activists on the Day of Silence. Voice messages and emails were sent to Karen England, executive director of the Sacramento-based Capitol Resource Institute, in response to her suggestion that children walk out of school in protest of the Day of Silence. (Listen to audio report)

Following is one of the messages left on England's voice mail: "You're a disgrace to the American woman. You're a disgrace to public -- and I wish you would just go kill yourself."

England saved the voice messages and emails and produced a YouTube video. [CAUTION: The linked video contains material not suitable for children.]

England admits she is deeply concerned -- and not just for herself. "If I'm getting this just over encouraging kids to remain home, I can't imagine what it's like to send a junior high or high school student into an environment where everyone is participating and they say, 'No, I'm not going to,'" she shares.

According to England, some of the threatening callers actually left their phone numbers. She is turning that information over to the police, and says she may file criminal charges.