BURIEN, Washington, October 17, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A volunteer working on a campaign in support of traditional marriage, as well as a pregnant bystander, were shaken up after a heated confrontation this weekend with a homosexual activist.
Arlene Mark, a volunteer for Preserve Marriage Washington, which is urging voters to reject a ballot measure to legalize homosexual “marriage,” says the attack began while she was waiting in her car to distribute literature to other volunteers.
According to Arlene, a man ran at her car, hit the back of it and ripped the Reject 74 campaign sign off the side. Arlene had taped the sign onto her vehicle so that other volunteers who were going to meet her in the parking lot could recognize her.
Arlene related in a press conference yesterday that as the man tore the sign, threw it on the ground, and stomped on it, he yelled, “This is what I think of your f—ing sign! I’m gay and proud of it.” The man then reportedly shouted profanities at Arlene calling her a “b—” and screaming “f— you!”
Nikki Davis, a woman who was sitting in a van parked next to Arlene’s vehicle, but who was not involved in the Reject Referendum 74 campaign, then tried to come to Arlene’s aid.
Nikki, who is pregnant, said the man began to hurl racial slurs at her, including calling her a “black b—” and the n-word, and telling her to “go back to Africa.” She says he also pounded on the back of her van, and kicked its tires.
Nikki, who was terrified for Arlene, for herself, and for her children who were with her in the car, called the police.
Before the police arrived the man drove away, but witnesses were able to record the license plate number of the getaway car, and turned the information over to the police.
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According to a spokesman for the Reject R-74 campaign, the attack shows that those promoting same-sex “marriage” are not as tolerant and open-minded as they would like voters to believe.
“It’s outrageous that the ‘Approve R-74’ campaign call themselves the voice of tolerance and moderation and want people to feel bad for rejecting the referendum. There was nothing tolerant or moderate about attacking Arlene and Nikki,” said Preserve Marriage Washington communications director Chip White.
Arlene, who is a grandmother, said the attack only strengthened her resolve to help ensure that Referendum 74 is rejected.
“The other side wants to intimidate us, but we can’t stop standing up for traditional marriage. I’m not giving up. Protecting traditional marriage is just too important for our kids and grandkids,” said Arlene. “I don’t want my grandkids taught in public school that same-sex ‘marriage’ is the same as traditional marriage.”
A bill to legalize same-sex “marriage” was passed by the Washington state Senate, with the support of Democrat governor Christine Gregoire, in February.
However, the new law was halted one day before it was set to come into effect, after Preserve Marriage Washington collected and filed over 240,000 signatures opposing the redefinition of marriage. The measure was then placed as a referendum to be brought to a vote on the November 6, 2012 ballot.
Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage and a member of the Executive Committee of Preserve Marriage Washington, said that the successful signature campaign in Washington demonstrates the “deep support that traditional marriage enjoys” and “sets the stage for a tremendous victory for marriage this November.”
“We are… confident of victory,” Brown declared. “Thirty-two states in America have voted on marriage and every one has stood for traditional marriage, and rejected redefining marriage. We have no doubt that Washington State will do the same.”
Further information is available on the Preserve Marriage Washington website.