Contact: John Ritchie, 717-225-7147 ext. 229

PROVIDENCE, RI, March 28, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Volunteers from the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property (TFP) visited Brown University during their state-wide tour for traditional marriage in Rhode Island. While peacefully demonstrating on the Ivy League campus, their pro-family banner was vandalized and a volunteer was spat upon in the face.

"What we faced at Brown University, an Ivy League university, had the flavor of a religious persecution," said TFP Student Action Director John Ritchie. "Dozens of pro-homosexual students screamed, spat, taunted, and even attempted to destroy our traditional marriage banner."

Video footage of the incident can be viewed here

"Suddenly, a loud thud-rip noise was heard. I looked up and saw a pro-homosexual student literally crashing through our traditional marriage banner, attempting to destroy it," explained Ritchie. "Running at top speed, he flung himself into it and ripped one side loose. Some students watching from a distance approvingly cheered the act of violence," he said.

"Brown University students recently held a protest against traditional marriage at the same location where we held ours and their signs included the word 'equality,'" Ritchie said. "However, they clearly wanted to impede our right to equally assemble."

"One of our youngest volunteers, age 17, was spat upon in the face," explained Ritchie. During our peaceful demonstration for God's marriage, he walked over and asked: 'What do I do with this on my face?' First, we told him to wipe the spittle off his face and then reported the incident to the police."

"Seeing the violent attitude of the pro-homosexual students, the police wanted to escort us to our vans after the campaign was over to protect us," stated Ritchie. "And thank God they did, because when we pulled away from the curb, many pro-homosexual students closed in to hit the sides of our vehicles with their fists or palms. A hard object, maybe a rock, was even thrown against one of the vans."

A full report is available online here