Pastor Jailed During 'Drag Queen Story Hour,' SWAT Team Snipers Positioned Atop Library Roof

By Heather Clark
Christian News Network
Jun. 22, 2019

A Baptist pastor was arrested and jailed on Saturday after refusing to move across the street from the Spokane, Washington Public Library while exercising his free speech against a "Drag Queen Story Hour." The event had a significant militaristic police presence, including camouflaged snipers positioned atop the roof to oversee the large crowd that stood both for and against the men dressed like women reading stories to children.

Afhsin Yaghtin of New Covenant Baptist Church was arrested for obstructing an officer as he contended with police that the South Hill Library is public property and that he should be able to speak adjacent to the facility instead of being required to stand across the street.

Video footage posted to social media shows police telling Yaghtin that if he does not support the event, he needs to stand on the other side of the street, away from the library -- though those defending the drag queens were permitted to be on the same side.

[...] According to The Spokesman-Review, an estimated 40 police officers were stationed outside of the library. Those who supported the event -- approximately 400 in all -- stood adjacent to library property, and those opposed to the "Drag Queen Story Time" -- about 200 concerned residents -- were asked by police to stand on the other side of the street.

One photo posted to social media shows a man in camouflage standing atop the South Hill Library. The Charles Carroll Society also posted photos on its website of men on the roof holding binoculars. See here and here. Sgt. Terry Preuniger of the Spokane Police Department told reporters that the police had thought people were going to bring firearms to the library.

[...] "If Jesus was around today, He would be on this side," one man who brought his son and daughter to the Story Hour claimed. His son wore a dress to the event.

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