Contact: Karen England, Executive Director, Capitol Resource Institute, 916-212-5607, kengland@capitolresource.org
MEDIA ADVISORY, April 16 /Christian Newswire/ -- Our staff is receiving threatening voicemails and emails, some of which are featured in our brand new Louder than Silence video. This mail is all in response to our joining the Day of Silence Walkout Coalition.
"You may not be gay, but you may be next," said one email, which included a photo of a casket.
"I wish you would just go kill yourself," said a voicemail left on our phone.
Day of Silence is supposed to be a campaign against name calling, bullying, and harassment. In messages from Day of Silence supporters, staff members at Capitol Resource Institute and another pro-family organization are called "bigot," "disgusting," "evil spawn," and much more.
"If this is the kind of atmosphere we get just for asking kids to stay home, in an email, can you imagine what it is like for kids refusing to stay silent?" said Karen England, Executive Director of Capitol Resource Institute.
We are urging this one day walkout because students should be free to support traditional marriage and relationships, without their peers seeing them as bigots. We are urging this one day walkout because teachers should focus on academic subjects, not on changing students' minds about sexual issues. If schools permit the Day of Silence in class, students are best off somewhere else.
"The actions of Day of Silence supporters are speaking louder than the silence," England said.
"We believe that respectful dialogue is important when people discuss disagreements on social issues. Unfortunately, we are not seeing that respect extended to us by Day of Silence supporters," she said.
This event falsely equates being anti-harassment with in favor of social activism in the schools. CRI strongly opposes all harassment. Teachers and students, however, should always be able to speak at school. The classroom is not an appropriate setting for social activism and protest.
CRI's new video powerfully illustrates that many people see one view of homosexuality as the only acceptable view. At CRI, we continue to stand for the belief that husband-wife relationships are best for society. We stand with the families who hold on to such beliefs, despite being mistreated.
"Many people who support traditional values are called right wing extremists, and Homeland Security says it is concerned about us. Maybe Homeland Security should be more concerned about assessing the threats we are receiving than about us as a threat to others," England said.
See for yourself what Day of Silence supporters are saying.
Watch the Louder than Silence video online
WARNING: This video is not suitable for young viewers.
Karen England is available for comment. To reach her, please call (916) 212-5607 or email kengland@capitolresource.org.